Bible Reading: Job 39; 1 Pet. 2:1-8.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” -1 Peter 2:2 (KJV)
When a new baby is born, the mother will feed him with breast milk. This is a natural food, with all the nutrients. No matter how nutritious any other food may be, the natural breast milk is canvassed by doctors as being better. When a new baby takes the breast milk and later other milk, it provides the required nutrients for growth and the baby develops from there. If a mother chooses not to give the breast milk or any other milk but gives solid food to the new born baby, the necessary formative ingredients required for steady growth of the baby would most likely be lacking.
In like manner, anyone who gives his life to Christ is a new born baby in Christ and requires to study the word of God, which is the spiritual food, very carefully so that he can be well grounded in the word of God. A common Latin maxim says “you cannot give what you don’t have.” So as a young believer, you need to know the word of God in order to live in accordance with its requirements.
How then do you know the word of God? There are five basic steps you need to take. These are hearing, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on the word.
Romans 10:17 KJV says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” You need to listen to messages of anointed children of God by CDs, VCDs or live sermons.
But you cannot limit yourself to hearing alone. You need to read the word. Deut 17:19 talks about daily reading of the word. Educationists say we retain about 25% of what we read.
Next is studying. This helps to understand, retain and utilize the information. The bible commands us to study the word in 2 Tim 2:15. Generally we retain about 50 % of what we study because this entails asking and answering questions as you read, comparing one verse with another and deciphering the message in the passage, chapter or book.
Then you need to memorise the word so that you can use it as a weapon against the devil. You might be faced with a situation where the bible is not with you or difficult to open, your memory verse will come handy to face the challenge.
Finally you need to meditate on the word of God. Joshua 1:8 talks about meditating day and night. This involves thinking through each verse, paragraph and passage identifying what the theme in it is and what message God is passing to you through that passage. By meditation, you can receive secrets of breakthrough, joy, victory and complete restoration.
This is why 1 Peter 2:2 KJV says “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”
Prayer: Father help me to sincerely desire the milk of your word in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero