8-3-2024

Good Morning All,

       1 Peter 2: 2-3; “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

     So, what do you usually eat for a meal?  Are you one of those who eat a meal where one half of the plate is “green” while the rest of the plate has a small potato and a small portion of meat?  Or do you follow the “Paleo” diet?  Or are you like most Americans, a Big Mac, fries and a Coke?  Do you know where you keep the “Ho-Hos” and the “Twinkies” and make sure to sample them regularly?  We tend to life “junk food,” almost more than at any time ever.  We are a nation that often eats fast.  Something quick and easy seems to be the rage.  We are a nation of junk food junkies; we long for the easy to make and eat but lacking in nutrition.  We want all the fluff but none of the “meat.”

    Our spiritual life can be the same way.  It seems like there is junk food everywhere.  It is on the television; it is on your computer, your smartphone.  You can find it on Twitter and Instagram; you can even find it in a real, old-fashioned, ink and paper book.  You know it is fluff with nothing but worthless calories and a lot of sodium.  It tells you things like “choose to make God important” or “work hard to find God” or “you can read the Bible and have it say what you need it to say today” or “my God isn’t like that.”  This is a lot of fluff; all of which will give you nothing of substance, nothing of value.  When you need it the most, it will fail you every time.

    That is what Peter is speaking of here, pure spiritual milk; the kind of nourishment that is perfect for us.  Paul tells us that we start with this spiritual milk and then grow into the more substantial food like real meat and real potatoes.  We get this by truly studying God’s Word.  Not with some fanciful and weak review but with honest and in-depth study.  We get it by attending worship services and in participating in the sacraments. 

    We need to use prayer and we need to trust in God’s promise to give us salvation.  We need to listen to God and his true Word and leave the junk food behind.  It is through his Word, not the word of misinformed, mindless man, that we are fed the true spiritual milk.   It is God’s gift to us so that we may be fed and nourished, ready to do battle with the struggles of this life and the assaults of the devil.  Savor the true, pure spiritual milk.  It satisfies beyond our imagination.

    Gracious Father, feed us your spiritual milk.  Give us the nourishment that will strengthen our faith and bring us closer to you.  Give us the certainty of your grace and mercy.  Be with those who only have junk food teachings.  Draw them to you that they may know your truth.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret