Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Yesterday, one of my small group leaders taught on this passage. I normally enjoy listening to his lessons. He goes deep into Scripture and does a good job of explaining truths in a way that’s easy to connect with and understand. But yesterday, my attention span didn’t make it past his first point.
After reading these first few verses, I had to pause and do some reflecting and journaling. It was one of those moments when it feels like God was giving me the knowing teacher look over the top rim of a cosmic pair of glasses He doesn’t need.
These verses are right in the middle of a whole bunch of really famous passages. Before these verses, Peter tells us to rejoice in our trials because they prove our faith. Right after these verses, Peter refers to Jesus as the cornerstone and us as a royal priesthood.
And then there are these verses. To be honest, I didn’t remember them, but they got my attention. Jai and I are hoping to start a family soon, and the mention of newborns caught my eye. But as soon as the passage had my attention, I felt that divine I-see-that-thing-you-want-Me-to-ignore look.
The Moment I Realized My Spiritual Growth Journey Had Stalled
I noticed two things. First, newborns can get pretty desperate for milk pretty fast, and I don’t know the last time I was that desperate. I don’t think I hung my physical head at that realization, but my spirit was definitely humbled. I was struggling with spiritual complacency.
Then I noticed something else that went even further. The milk Peter references is meant for a purpose, and that purpose is growth. Not exactly the most revolutionary revelation on the physical level, but when I started to reflect on spiritual growth–my own, to be specific–another truth suddenly came to mind.
The growth that should come about because of this milk I’m not nearly desperate enough for is meant to always be drawing me closer to an infinite God. And the thing about infinity is that you can’t ever get to the end of it.
What Infinity Means for Your Spiritual Growth Journey
Am I not just full of revelatory gems today?
But here’s what God showed me in that moment. Even though I would never have said so out loud, and likely would have actively denied it if someone asked, I had come to a place in my heart of hearts where I felt like I had arrived. Like I was in a good place in my walk with God and deserved to relax. I was holding onto an attitude that I knew God well enough that I could just coast for a bit.
But that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if the aim of the growth in question is becoming more and more like infinity.
I think my physical head did hang a bit at that one.
How to Hunger for God’s Word Again
It was a humbling truth to come toe-to-toe with. But the more I thought about it, I also discovered it could be an exciting truth as well. Because there will never be an end to the adventure of getting to know and growing closer to an infinite God whose love for us is as infinite as His nature.
As we start this next week, I encourage you to think about your own attitude toward spiritual growth. I know firsthand it can be uncomfortable, but I think it’s important, with God’s help, to seek out those answers. Regardless of what you find, whether you need to ask for forgiveness like me or not, let’s turn our eyes toward the biggest adventure we’ll ever get to experience–running headlong toward our infinite Father.
0 Comments