✝ Daily Encouragement (6/20/23) "Craving Pure Spiritual Milk"

Published: Tue, 06/20/23

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Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Merry-go-round for cows
(Click on photo to enlarge)

"Craving Pure Spiritual Milk"

Note: This morning I am heading up to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon area for some bike rides along with Jimmy, a friend. Not sure how I'll be able to post but will take my small laptop just in case.

Message summary: We should always desire the milk of God's Word, even the simple, familiar truths. Spiritual hunger is a vital sign of spiritual health.

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"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). "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

We (especially Stephen) enjoy seeing the various ways people work for a living. Thus our vacations will sometimes also include factory tours, the most notable one being in the late 90's when we visited the huge factory where they build the Boeing 747 in Everett, Washington. Our role as company chaplains gets us into a variety of work settings as well as our other associations in life so I learn a lot through these experiences and settings.

Last Friday evening we had dinner with Bob and his wife Robin, along with some other friends, who are members of our ABF class. They operate a large dairy farm and Bob wanted to show us his new milking parlor. The apparatus looks like a merry-go-round, although I am sure that's not what it's called! (An alert reader informed me it's called a carousel milker.)

The cows come on to the merry-go-round on one side where their udders are cleaned and the milkers are put on manually (not robots!) As they slowly go around they are being milked. The machine senses when they are finished milking and the milkers come off automatically. They depart from the other side with another udder cleaning. It's quite a contrast to the hand milking into a pail!

The illustrations of the Bible are cross cultural and cross generational. After all, we still have cows and we still drink milk. I had milk today on my cereal.

Peter uses a milk illustration in the daily text. Being hungry is a sign of physical health. A failure to have an appetite is a sign of ill health. Peter applies this to the spiritual appetite using hungry babies as an example. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk".

A number of years ago when we pastored in Massachusetts I came into the house after church one evening and noticed a glass of milk sitting on the kitchen table. It had some crumbs in it but I was thirsty so I drank it. Brooksyne came in and noticed it was gone and asked me about it so I told her. She laughed as she informed that the glass was a compilation of what was left over in small cups after a group of children had all they wanted and it was intended for our dog! O well, I guess I just had a craving for some milk and it obviously didn't kill me.

Peter says we are to "crave pure spiritual milk". The Greek word for "crave" means an "intense longing". God has provided in His Word spiritual milk. It's interesting to me that in several other Scripture portions milk is conveyed as something that is the beginning point from which we are to advance. But Peter reminds his readers that they are to always have a desire for the spiritual milk. His appeal is to all believers, not just new ones.

The purpose is, "so that by it you may grow up in your salvation". Just as adequate nutrition is essential to make us grow physically the same is true spiritually. Growing up in our salvation is a lifelong pursuit!

"Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good". Perhaps Peter was alluding to Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good".

I hope I will always have a desire for the milk of God's Word, even the simple, familiar truths. Spiritual hunger is a vital sign of spiritual health. Whether we're new in our faith or have walked with the Lord for many years, like newborn babies we are to crave pure spiritual milk. I recall a line in the old hymn, "I love to tell the story" which states, "for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest". May that always be true in our lives!

Be encouraged today, ( Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we desire to have a healthy craving for Your truths and to grow in the grace and knowledge imparted to us through the teachings of Jesus and Your faithful servants inspired and led by the Holy Spirit. We know this involves much more than simply reading the Scriptures, but it includes meditating and memorizing principles and portions of the inspired text. It includes saying "no to ungodliness and worldly passions and living self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age". As our world continues the slide into decadence and self-indulgence, it means that we, with great intention, set our heart's desires on that which is pure and holy so that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Psalm 34 - Taste and See" Click to listen on YouTube Shane & Shane

"I Love To Tell The Story" Click to listen on YouTube A Cappella

The cows enter just before this spot where a worker cleans their teats (Bob stressed they are pronounced tēēts) and another dries them off. The third worker places the milkers on. A scanner identifies each cow and once the milkers are in place their yield is recorded in real time.
(Click on photo to enlarge)

Bob took us down below and it appears the cows are enjoying their merry-go-round ride! I showed the photos to a friend last night and he said "For the cows it's a mooooving experience"!
(Click on photo to enlarge)

A scenic Lancaster County rural view from Bob and Robin's home. The recent rains are greening up the fields but we need more.

Finally today:

Last night our long-time friends Tom and Marsha (40 years plus) stopped by for a visit, along with their granddaughter Kylee. Today they are going to Sight and Sound. Tom and Marsha were tremendous blessings to us and our congregation during our years of ministry in northern PA. They continue to faithfully serve the Lord and Tom has various preaching opportunities.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

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