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Vol. 12 No. 3 March 2010 |
Page 14 |
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Vol. 12 No. 3 March 2010 |
Page 14 |
Milk of Reason
Mark McWhorter
All babies like milk. God made them to need it. Milk gives them the nutrients needed to grow. When a baby gets hungry, he will cry. The mother knows that the baby needs more milk.
We are supposed to be like the baby. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). We should desire the Word of God, just like a baby desires milk. Do you cry if you do not get to study your Bible? There are not very many people in this world who desire God’s Word that much, but God wants all humans to desire His Word that much.
Many people do not understand the milk of God. There are many who think following God is nothing more than having a ‘feeling.’ They believe that once a person gets the ‘feeling’ of being saved, then there is nothing more to do. They do not believe there is a need for Bible study.
The words ‘of the Word’ in our verse, are from the Greek word “logikos.” This word means logical or reasonable. Thus, the verse could read, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere logical word, that ye may grow thereby.” Growth in the grace and mercy of God is not solely dependent upon feelings. The milk of God is logical or reasonable. This means that the mind must be used in thinking about God’s Word.
His commandments are logical. They are not just statements made out of unthinking emotions. Neither is obedience to God based in unthinking feelings. A person must study and meditate on God’s Word so that they can know what to do to be obedient. Therefore, a person must desire to use their mind in desiring to follow God. A person must desire the milk of reason or logic.
Make sure you know how to obey God. Make sure you know how to grow into the Christian God wants you to be. Study your Bible, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Mark McWhorter
Have you ever been standing downwind from a fire? Did the wind blow the smoke toward you? Did you get smoke in your nose? Did the smoke make you cough? Did the smoke take your breath away? Did the smoke burn your nose?
It is very uncomfortable to get smoke in your nose. If the smoke is from certain types of fires, it can smell very bad, and that bad smell will stay in your nose for a long time. We read, in Isaiah 65:5, “Which say, Stand thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”
In the previous verses, we find out that the wicked Israelites are being referenced. The Israelites had become very wicked. Yet, they still wanted to be called the people of God. They still believed that they were God’s chosen and nothing could separate them from God. They did not even want the prophets to talk to them.
God considered these people as smoke in his nose. He did not like anything that they did as worship toward Him. He did not like anything about them. They were a bad smell in His nose. They were uncomfortable to His nose. Instead of their sacrifices coming up as a sweet smelling savor, they were a stinking, burning smoke.
Make sure that you are not like bad smoke in God’s nose. Make sure you are in the right relationship with God. Study your Bible. Obey what it says, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.