I Peter 2:1-3 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 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.

It was a common practice among “hucksters” in the first century to sell diluted milk and wine. They found their product would go further if they just added water or some other sort of additive to their product. The customer would think they were getting pure milk, but instead, it was a corrupted product. Obviously, this was a deceitful and malicious practice that was not in the best interest of the customer.

As Christians, we have been born again and are in need of nourishment. We are constantly growing up in this new life. The “pure milk” of God’s word makes us healthy and strong. Like the old commercial said, “Milk: it does your body good.” The pure spiritual milk of God’s will and promises does your body and soul good!

As one commentator puts it, we must be addicted to God’s Word. Just as a newborn baby grows strong from their mother’s milk, so the child of God is strengthened by God’s Word. Such a connection helps us as we are sold so many other diluted messages that bring about malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These are like chemical additives that harm your body. Like newborn babies, rush to God’s Word for a strong and resilient faith!

Father, I thank you that you provide me with your pure Word. May I long for it more and more and be strengthened by its truth. Protect me from false teachers who would dilute your Word and forgive me for listening to them. AMEN!

*The symbol on the top of this devotional stands for “Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum.” It is a Latin phrase which means “The Word of the Lord endures forever.” This phrase, based on I Peter 1:24-25, served as the battle cry of the Lutheran reformers as it reminded them that God’s Word alone was sufficient to teach them God’s will. The symbol was on flags, banners, uniforms, and even swords as a sign of unity among those who suffered for confessing their faith in Christ alone. *
Pastor Bob

Labels: word-remains-forever