“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:1-3
Someone commented to me that he sees many people coming to faith in the Messiah, but knowingly continuing to walk in the ways of the world. He asked me if, in my opinion, this is possible; how can a new creation in Messiah continue in the old ways of the flesh? I replied with a question of my own, “ Do you think a baby can be born and not be born at the same time?” In other words, one is either born of the Spirit (i.e., born again) or he is not. (John 3:1-15)
Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I firmly believe God is the only one who can judge a person’s salvation! He is the only one who truly knows our hearts, minds and souls and, therefore, I am very careful how I reply to such a question.
In my last blog entry, I wrote about the fact that the only way for salvation is by accepting the atonement God has provided through His Son. It is a free gift and there is nothing we can do to earn it; it is by grace and grace alone that one can be saved. (Eph 2:8-10)
We must accept, however, that those who accept salvation in Messiah Yeshua are called to do good works, which He prepared for us in advance. 1 Peter 2:1-3 refers to newborn babes, which means that at the moment of salvation you become a new creation; God replaces your heart of stone with a heart of flesh. He puts His teaching, His Word, in our hearts and we now live and breathe them.
Once we are saved – a truly new creation – the Holy Spirit lives, dwells, within us; we will no longer simply accept that which is unholy, but will struggle with it because it is against the holiness that now lives within.
However, we also need to remember that newborns can’t eat steaks when they are born; they need their mother’s milk, which is the best thing for them. A baby does not start to walk immediately, nor does he speak right away; all these things take time. Likewise, we need to understand that our new journey as followers of the Messiah is a spiritual journey where we start by craving the pure milk, and then we start to eat solids. We start by crawling, then standing, then taking the first step, the second and then, suddenly, we walk. In the process we fall down and will stumble, but then we get up and are walking again.
Growing in our walk with the Lord means that, because of His grace, we aspire to live according to His standard; we desire to live holy lives and get rid of all that which is not Holy. It is a process, a journey, and it requires much patience and relying on the Lord for the grace to do it every single day. If you have truly tasted the kindness of the Lord, your heart will desire holiness and those things that are pleasing to the Lord.
My prayer is that you will grow in the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior;
Shabbat Shalom!
2 Comments on “Desiring More than milk …”
Shabbat Shalom Moran, The past months there has been a very big change in my life. During Pesach I heart things that were completely new to me. My faith which I thought was right seemed to be wrong in many ways. Trough others (G’ds Holy Spirit) I heared a new way of understanding the Bible. Now I am gratefull that G’d calls me and teaches me about His ways. My life is changing in many ways now and personaly I think that one cannot life in the flesh anymore. Therefore I started with changing my food, reading the Bible and in the next few weeks I am going to rest on Shabbat, and go to a Torah-Yeshua group. So I am going to inform my clients about this because I have a shop wich is open on saturday untill now.
In the beginning I wasn’t shure but after reading the Bible and hearing his voice it is clear to me now. I thank the G’d of Abraham, Isaak and Jacob that he calles me. Thank you for your newsletters and I pray for the Jewish people that they will get to know Yeshua and that G’d will protect His people and give them a heart of flesh. Grateful for haven become a part of the Olive tree I sincerely love my older brothers and sisters. Shabbat Shalom Nanny
There you are precious brother Moran. Praise the Lord G_d Almighty ! For many years, there are brethren in the faith whom I scarcely can rebuke, no, I refuse to rebuke regarding this matter they impute against weak Christians. Inside of me, I get quite indignant because they did not seem to realize, and it is very clear, as simple as Jesus Christ and the Bible spoke over regeneration of the (believer’s) spirit, also considering they (those brethren) seem to be intelligent and knowledgeable Christians.
Yes, growing Christians handle their spiritual lives uncanny, so awkward while demanding, “matured” Christians slap down judgments that those poor, or slow-germinating Christians are not yet saved and still don’t enjoy a relationship with Mashiach. For the sake of level-headedness, I pray for both sides, for God to takeover and teach them to understand, for God to refute their acquired doctrine. It is indeed emotionally and spiritually injurious in me or maybe to Christians like you to hear such kind of statements from these brethren.
Sure the Lord G_d had led you taking up this matter in your blog. It was weeks ago I heard again someone I know saying this statement. But our gracious, loving G_d forgive them and help them not to resist G_d’s plain, simple words. In Christ Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray, amen.
Shabbat shalom,
Ruth Hirt