“Oh, grow up!” — the familiar rebuke often aimed at someone displaying immature behavior. Peter seems to voice a similar urgency to the early church in his words:
“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.” (1 Peter 2:1-3)
Peter is emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth through the Word of God. He urges believers to discard sinful habits and develop a deep longing for the pure, unadulterated Word of God, which nourishes and strengthens them spiritually. Growth, he implies, comes from actively seeking and engaging with God’s truth.
A preacher once had his cholesterol checked and was told it was too high. Following his doctor’s advice, he made significant changes—more exercise, less fatty and fast food. Over two years, his cholesterol dropped by 27 points. He reflected on the change:
“Changing my diet has really changed the way I ‘taste’ food. I used to love really greasy foods. Now, if I have a pepperoni pizza, I find myself thinking, ‘Wow! This tastes really greasy!’ It’s not that pizzas are any greasier than before; my appetite has simply changed because of the foods I put into my system.”
The same principle applies spiritually. Just as our physical appetites can shift toward healthier food, our spiritual appetites can grow toward God’s Word. Like newborns longing for their mother’s milk, we are meant to crave the nourishing Word of God.
Malice. Deceit. Hypocrisy. Envy. Slander. Indulging these “unhealthy spiritual foods” dulls our appetite for God’s Word and stunts our spiritual growth. Peter’s words are clear: “Put these things aside!” Only by removing such harmful influences can we mature in faith and grow into the fullness of spiritual health.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to be mindful of what we allow to fill our minds and hearts. Increase our hunger for wholesome spiritual teaching. Draw us to Your Word and open our hearts to receive its riches. Nourish us, O Living Word, that we may grow into maturity in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.