This weekend we celebrated our oldest granddaughter’s second birthday.  We had a great time.  She loved all of the company and all of the presents.  It was a joy to see her and her little sister who is 7 weeks old.  Her little sister is still young enough that she generally only wakes up long when she is hungry and wants a bottle.  And believe me when she wants a bottle, she definitely lets you know it!  That little girl can cry loud when she is hungry.  It reminds me of what Simon Peter said in 1 Peter 2:1 – 2.  In chapter 2 he writes:

1Peter 2:1 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”

Peter is saying that we should love the word of God like a baby loves his bottle.  When babies get hungry they will cry for that bottle.  They want to be fed and they want to be fed on a regular basis.  Peter says that God’s children should want to be fed regularly with God’s word.  Peter says we that we should be upset and cry out when we’re not receiving it.  The word of God should be that important to us as God’s children.  Peter has a reason for placing such high importance on it.

This book of the New Testament known as First Peter is actually a letter that Peter has written to members of the church.  And in this letter, Peter is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  He is communicating on behalf of God.  Prior to chapter two, Peter has shared some very important concepts with the members of the church.  Peter has reminded them, and reminded us that our individual faith in Jesus Christ has resulted in our individual salvation and it has given us an incorruptible inheritance in heaven.

In chapter one Peter says that we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  He says that our salvation is protected by God; it is safe and secure and it is something that cannot be taken away.  Peter also communicated that as a result we are called to live a life that is holy; we are called to endure trials and temptations with a spirit of hope and grace.  Peter says we are called to live a life that brings glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter says that if you are going to meet the challenges of this life, you must consistently and regularly partake of God’s word!  Simon Peter understood the transforming power of God’s word.  He understood what it meant to grow in respect to salvation.  Simon Peter started off as an uneducated fisherman.  Before he met Christ he was rude, crude and socially unacceptable.  During his ministry with Christ, there were still times that he was rude, crude and socially unacceptable.  He argued with other disciples about who was the greatest, he even rebuked Jesus, and at one point he denied he knew the Lord.  He denied Him 3 times and to prove it, he cursed like a sailor!

Peter did all of those things after he met Christ, but Peter learned about the grace of our Lord.  He knew what it meant to be forgiven.  He knew what it meant to be embraced by someone you had let down before.  Peter understood about the power of the word of God to help a person grow in respect to their salvation.  He understood about the power of the word of God to cause a man to be born again and to help that man become a better person.  Because Peter understood the power of the word, Peter wanted all of us to love the word and long for it like a baby longs for milk.

Peter saw God’s word as a gift; a gift that helps us be who God has called us to be.  Peter also saw God’s word as a gift meant to be given to others so that they can be blessed too!  There is no other gift you can give someone else that is greater than the word of God.  Peter quotes the prophet Isaiah at the end of chapter one and reminds us:

Isaiah  40:8  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

The word of God is the only gift that is relevant for all situations.  It is the only gift that can meet every need.  The Word of God never falls; it never fails.    It always brings comfort.  It always brings mercy.  It is always right.  It is always true.  It is always the perfect gift.  It is a gift to be cherished and a gift to be given to others.

As I close I ask you this question:  “Do you know the word?”  Now when I ask, “Do you know the word” I don’t mean can you quote scripture or can you name all the books of the bible.  I mean do you know the word that John talks about in his gospel.  John says in chapter one:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  The Gospel of John, chapter one.

When John speaks of the Word, he is speaking of living Word Jesus Christ, the son of God, the one who gave His life to pay for our sins, the One spoken of in John 3:16:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

That’s the Word that both John and Peter knew.  It is important that you know Him too.  The bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  The bible says that our sin separates us from God and that the penalty for sin is death.  The bible also says that Jesus Christ freely paid that penalty and that if you confess Him as Lord, you will receive forgiveness of your sin.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  He feeds our soul like milk feeds a baby.  He is the word that forgives us, sustains us, comforts us and blesses us.  Do you know the Word?  If not, I would love to introduce you to Him today.

If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can send me an email directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com