as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (1 Peter 2:2)

How are God’s people to live in the world without living like the world?  How are they to lead holy lives?  (I Peter 1:15, 16)  An important aspect of holy living is spiritual growth!  Living the sanctified life comes in progressive stages that takes one from childhood to maturity.

So, how is one going to mature as God wishes?  Peter offers two keys to spiritual growth:  1) lay aside any sins that may hinder the process, and 2) desire the sincere milk of the word.  It is the later that I want to focus on.

Peter tells us that the word of God is necessary for spiritual growth.  God’s word, the spiritual seed, is the basis for holy living!  By obeying this truth, souls have been purified, and they’ve been born into the kingdom of God.  Christian growth depends upon the proper use of God’s word.

The word of God is food for the soul like milk is for infants.  It can provide the spiritual nourishment essential to the process of maturing.  It contains all of the necessary nutrients.  God’s word is a source of spiritual life.  It is an “incorruptible seed that lives and abides forever”.  It has the power to create and sustain a relationship with God when planted in an honest heart.

Therefore, our spiritual growth depends upon our desire for God’s word.  The imagery here is like a baby longing for nourishment.  Like it or not, we must use our intellect to receive it and digest it.  Like a baby crying for mother’s milk, we are to crave the milk of the word.  This would include daily reading, meditation, and application.

Experiencing God’s word in our life is sweet to taste:  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:3)  Peter does not imply doubt here, but supposes that they have tasted, and urges them on the ground of the first taste, to long for more.

God has not given us a hope that can never be realized.  He also gives us his word which moves us to conversion and then, if we crave it, sets up shop within us and goes to work preparing us for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

By George Slover
 

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:27-28)

As an Apostle and servant of Christ, Paul also served as a model for evangelism.  Paul was a suffering saint and prisoner of the Lord.  All of his strivings were motivated by man’s greatest cause – the cause of Christ.  In his life’s work, Paul can be a model for us. 

The subject of his preaching is Christ.  Paul says: “we proclaim Him”!  His message did not consist of vain philosophy or religious tradition (Colossians 2:8).  Thus, our mission is to uphold Christ – to proclaim his death, burial, and resurrection, to draw portraits of His life, to herald His grace, and to clearly spell out His demands.

The scope of his preaching is all mankind.  Paul says, “We admonish every man”.  C.S. Lewis stated: “There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal.  Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.  But it is immortals whom we joke with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”  What a sobering thought.  No one is safe without Jesus!  All men are accountable to God.  Thus, our mission is to generously scatter the seed.

The method of Paul’s preaching is practical instruction – “warning and teaching”.  The goal must be to convict the sinner of his guilt (Romans 3:23), and encourage them by the offers of the gospel.  The terms of pardon are "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 20:21) This also includes submission to God in baptism.  (Acts 2:28)

The goal of gospel preaching is to present every man perfect in Christ.  The work of the preacher is to mold lives and develop character.  Redeeming the sinner of guilt and saving the eternal soul are important, but the work is not finished with conversion.  It only begins there.  In fact the eternal goals will not be realized unless one grows on toward perfection in Christ.

It was to this work Paul devoted all of his energy.  It is to this same ministry Christians are also called.  There is not a more important endeavor.

By George Slover 
 

So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the LORD has said we will do." (Exodus 24:3)

The giving of the Book of the Covenant now completed, Moses descends from the mountain and declares it to the people.  (vs.1-3)  When the people heard they expressed a willingness to obey: "All the words which the LORD has said we will do."  Moses takes the blood and sprinkles half of it on the altar and half of it on the people and their acceptance of the covenant is complete.

Upon this occasion God accepted the accolades of Israel.  With the altar and sprinkling of blood, God provided a means by which Israel could be reminded to make good on their promise.  Unfortunately, Israel would prove to be a fickle people and soon forget their commitment to Jehovah.

The fickleness of Israel has been often repeated by others.  One has good intentions, but often fails to follow through.  He is torn by emotions that draw him in one direction and his reason which draws him in another.  Thus, one will make promises, as Israel did at Sinai, but when the emotion of the moment is gone and life gets ordinary and dull, he finds his pledge hard to keep.

The gospel of Christ demands commitment.  We are not just saved to be saved (Romans 12:1,2), but we are saved to serve.  God demands implicit faith committed to righteousness rather than sin.  (Romans 6:18)  All too often the new convert on the day of baptism starts with lofty goals, but will soon drop out of the race.  

Like Israel God has implemented ways to remind the Christian of his initial commitment.  The Lord’s Supper, our memorial of Christ, should rekindle our spirits. (I Corinthians 11:23-29)  The inspired word is designed to stir us up. (II Peter 3:1,2) God’s people should provoke us to love and good works.  (Hebrews 10:24,25)  

So when our life ends will we be among those who followed through or among those who failed?  Take up the tools God gave you, keep the heart burning for Christ, and one day you will reap the rewards.

George Slover 

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

Having traveled to third world country to preach, knowing the challenges of such work, Paul’s prayer request touches a chord with me.  There are wonderful families who are willing to sacrifice the comforts of America to live under extreme hardship to preach in foreign lands.  I can think of times when I have doubted my own work because it was obvious the prospect was more interested in my American money than the gospel of Christ.  Yet, I have also been inspired by the faithful remnant who continues to serve the Lord in extremely difficult circumstances.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that their part in his work is prayer.  Prayer is a mighty power and we must use it.  The success of the missionary also depends upon the prayers of the faithful. Those who offer such petitions are also helpers in the work.

First, Paul asks them to pray that the gospel might “have free course”.  There were grave hindrances presented by the Jews and their prejudices, or the Romans and their jealousy.  Paul commands the saints to pray for the gospel to run the race unimpeded.  Saints must continue to pray that such great opportunities might continue and doors opened in all parts of the World.  Pray for the spread of the gospel.  Pray for God to open the way!  

Next, Paul commands them to pray that God be glorified.  The gospel is God’s power to salvation (Rom.1:16).  It is glorified when it is accepted and obeyed.  God is honored by the well-ordered lives and joyful hearts influenced by the gospel.  The gospel is exalted when a saint dies with the assurance of eternal life.

Finally, we must pray for God’s servants.  Pray for their deliverance from unreasonable and wicked men who are God’s enemies.  Unruly men used the judgment seat, physical pain and other serious threats to destroy the life of Paul.  He bids the Thessalonians to pray for his release! 

Pray constantly for the success of the gospel.  Christ bids you. His apostles bid you.  The missionary needs your supplications.

By George Slover


 

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

Several years ago I was working with a prospect having serious problems with alcohol.  Several studies led them to baptism.  However, it was not long after their baptism that old habits raised their ugly head.  The result was two years of trying to counsel this person in how to overcome their addiction.  

There were times when things went smoothly for this person.  However, there were moments when they would confess:  “I messed up again”.  Then they would ask:  “Why do I keep messing up?”  Ultimately, the decision to abstain from the world or to yield to temptation is a faith issue.

I encouraged this new Christian to develop daily habits that would help them with their addiction.  Habits such as daily Bible reading, daily prayer, and frequent connection with someone “spiritual” (Galatians 6:1) to whom they were accountable can benefit the addict.  Learning to stay away from places where they are tempted, and staying busy with things that are productive is also helpful.  But, if one is to really change, they must change their perspective.  They must develop a heavenly perspective!

The heavenly perspective means we must learn to deny ourselves.  (Galatians 2:20)  Self-denial is hard.  How does one say “no” to self in a world that says “no” to nothing?  Jesus provides an answer.

In Luke 9:19 Jesus asked his disciples: “who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20)
Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:20)  Thoughts of Jesus being the anointed of God may have prompted thoughts of exaltation and glory.  However, this was not to be the fate of Jesus: "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." (Luke 9:22)   Jesus followed this prediction by saying: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)   The very life of Jesus was the model of true discipleship.  The cost is high, but we must learn to deny our self.

The heavenly perspective also includes saying “yes” to God’s final reward.  It is easier to have a greater confidence in the tangible (the bottle of alcohol) than in an invisible heaven.  We are so easily motivated by what we touch and feel- by instant gratification. The true disciple embraces (Hebrews 11:13) and seeks (Hebrews 11:14) a home they’ve never seen.  Thus, gratification is deferred for the moment.  They acknowledge they are sojourners in this world.  For the time being they must endure the pain and wait for heavenly bliss.

Paul says:  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)  What about you?  Do you believe?

By George Slover