Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The dairy section at the local supermarket is nothing like the old dairies used to be. One used to go to the local dairy, unless it came to you, and select various sizes of glass containers of whole milk with the cream visibly separated near the top. They also carried buttermilk and, if a kid was lucky, that dairy might also carry chocolate milk. Nowadays, the dairy section of even the smallest grocer contains whole milk, 2%, 1%, 1/2%, and skim. Most stores are also carrying organic milk in all of these varieties. Even nowadays the selections have expanded to soy milk, oat milk, etc. plus even more flavors.
For all the of this milk, there is one variety missing from the shelves and that is Spiritual Milk. The figurative spiritual milk that Peter mentions “is nothing but the Gospel” (Luther’s Works, Vol 30).
Sadly, we live in a society today that is lacking that Spiritual Milk. We don’t take the time to taste it and see that the Lord is good. This happens when we let our daily lives take over our life and not have that full, direct relationship with God. We put God on the back burner so to speak. We let other things take over or rule our lives that draw us away from God. It begins by little things that keep us from going to church and observing the Sabath Day. Keeping us from receiving the rest and peace that only God can give us. The Peace of God that surpasses our understanding. It also keeps us from being fed that Spiritual Milk. The time to be fed with coming together as a community. To receive that milk so that we can grow in our spiritual faith. We receive that through worshiping God in prayer and song. Hearing the Word of God. Receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
As God’s beloved children we need to be careful that we don’t try to water down that Spiritual Milk. We need to make it a priority in our life, along with our children’s life to receive that Spiritual Milk so that we can grow into salvation. We must be sure we long for the pure Gospel and do not take away or add anything to it. It must be the whole, pure Gospel of Christ. If so, we may be sure to taste and see that the Lord is good.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Gary
“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 2:2-3