Milk and Meat

Babies start off with milk. This is the only nourishment they can handle. But they must have that nourishment. Based on this reality, Peter states under inspiration, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). The word desire is imperative. New believers in Christ must get the milk of the Word in order to grow spiritually.

But just as babies grow up and begin to take on other foods, eventually including meat, so new believers need to move on to more of the Word than just milk. They need meat. Paul chided the Corinthian believers, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1 Cor. 3:1-2).

It is not so much a matter that the meat of the Word is intellectually deep, but rather spiritually deep. Without the help of the Spirit, the meat of the Word may seem too difficult to understand. But with the help of the Spirit, you see the realities of truth connected to the written words. This blessing takes place as you chew on the meat in meditation. Meditation allows the Spirit to open your understanding (Ps. 119:99).

Often, I hear individuals say that preachers need to put their messages on the bottom shelf. This simplicity is needful. But it cannot be that all truth preached must be on the bottom shelf or there would be no place for the meat of the Word. The higher shelf demands a bit of a stretch to reach. Yet that stretch reveals hunger. And God promises to satisfy the longing soul, and fill the hungry soul with goodness (Ps. 107:9).