“2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by I you may grow up into salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” – 1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
This morning as I wrap up my study of the word “hypocrisy” for now, I was brought to this passage in 1 Peter, where the text is titled, “A Living Stone and a Holy People”. In the first few verses, he indicates that we should be “like newborn infants”. I was reminded that when we become a “new” born again Christian, we are starting over and need to learn, just like the newborn infant.
Newborns know nothing and only “desire for nourishment that will lead to growth” (NIV Commentary, verses 2 & 3). They are reliant on simply receiving that which they need to live and grow bigger, stronger, and knowing. They are not sure what it is they need to know, only receive all that comes and apply it to situations as they see examples of when they learned.
Why is it that we are not like the newborn and feel as though we already know all there is to know?
“1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – 1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
And there it is, the why. I forget that as adults, we are in it not for the knowledge and growth and learning, but for how it will benefit me and how I can use it against others. You see that Peter addresses it clearly by writing that we should “put away” such things and become “like a newborn infant”. I have to remember that as a child of God, I really don’t know anything and as such, when I do learn of it, I should apply it as I see examples of when I learned.
And where should I be learning, God’s Word and those that are mature in His Word, just as a parent providing examples for the immature child. I do not know and when I learn, I am still not mature enough to know how to use what I learn. I have to be willing and take the action to put away the selfish desires of me and look to how I can use this newfound knowledge for the enhancement of the gospel and of Christ in the world I am in.
I am even at almost 50 years old, just a child of God and I should be looking to Him as my example of what right looks like as I do the work He has for me.
Have you been acting “like a newborn infant”? What things have you learned and are applying to your life in a selfish manner to only be better than those around you? What if you “put away” all of that and applied your learning to the your tasks assigned by God?
Trevor's Thoughts 