She Reads Truth: 1 PeterSample

Longing For God

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”  (Psalm 42:1)

You stumble out of bed at 2am to provide yet another feeding to a new baby, wailing for you. Whether you’re heating up a bottle or nursing, you’ve probably got the same bleary-eyed look as all new moms. And at least once in the next few months, the thought crosses your mind, “When will the desperate need for round the clock feedings stop and this little one will sleep for a while?”

Would you believe that God wants us to be that baby? He wants the wailing, the screams, the incessant longing to be held and rocked and fed.

When we read today’s scripture, we see that Peter encourages his readers to “crave spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.” He relates us to a baby, knowing that newborns are completely dependent on their parents for nourishment.

In our lives, we need to get to a point where we cry out for our God and His word. Where we feel empty and alone if we stray from Him for long. As we study the Bible and commune with each other, there should be a greater need for that in our souls. If we allow our spiritual nourishment to cease or lack, the other things Peter mentions begin to creep in.

• Malice
• Deceit
• Hypocrisy
• Jealousy
• Unkind speech

These become easier to fall back into as we stray further away. Sins feed on what we think we need instead of God, and, in return, it makes us sick. We wouldn’t give an infant a package of Cheetos and go back to sleep. Yet that’s so close to what we do to ourselves when we wander. God knows exactly what we need - down to our souls.

“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Corinthians 3:2, NIV)

The word of our Lord gives us life. We should crave it, long for it in our lives. Whether we face troubles or sorrow, joy and peace, it should turn us to scripture. Again and again. Praise God that He is always there waiting for us - never tired, never weary.

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