“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

In church circles, you’re likely to hear about the importance of a regular time in God’s Word. It’s an important and good habit. If the Creator of the universe wants personal time with each of us, it makes sense to see what He has to say!

If you’re already frequently in God’s word, perhaps you’ll take this next step with me and consider why we do that. Sometimes I find I’m doing it mainly because I should. That’s not a bad reason; when better motivations fail, self discipline is a good backup. But if I’m honest, sometimes I find I’m doing a daily devotion so if it comes up in conversation, I’ll be seen as someone devout. “Looking good” is not a good reason for being in God’s Word. In fact, it’s exactly what Jesus condemned so harshly in the Pharisees of his time. 

For an infant, milk is life.

I found the best reason for daily time with God in Peter’s words above, where “spiritual milk” is identified with God’s Word. For an infant, milk is their sole nourishment. It’s life itself. We adults have many sources of nourishment and strength, so God’s word may seem like an extra or optional choice. But that’s deceptive. While bodies do need food and water and oxygen to survive, we are more than our bodies. Our souls were made to be in relationship with our God. Without him, we are incomplete, we are missing our primary nourishment, we are missing the life we were created for. With that in mind, we do yearn and long for the nourishment of God’s Word and its reminders our real needs and the lengths God went to, to provide what our souls need for eternity. 

May we always approach his Word with that yearning.