Speaking to the church Peter encouraged them, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

There is a form of dairy product that I am quite fond of, it’s called ice-cream. My love for ice-cream began a long time ago. Once I had that first taste, and tasted that it was good, I never looked back. Peter is essentially saying the same thing about God. He tells us to “desire the sincere milk of the word.” That desire comes about when we have “tasted that the Lord is good.” When we taste His goodness we want more.

Many people have no desire for the Word of God. I suspect it’s because they have never really tasted the goodness of God. It’s addicting – the goodness of God. Once you have had a taste you want to keep going back for more. And unlike ice-cream, there are no adverse health effects, nor will you see a sizeable change in your waist line, if you seek to indulge in the goodness of God.

When someone desires something they essentially have a craving. I remember when my wife was pregnant; she would have cravings for certain foods at the most bizarre times. And much to my dismay she would never crave ice cream; but the craving was something that had to be satisfied ASAP!

Peter tells us that we are to crave the Word of God much as an infant craves his milk. Have you ever seen a hungry infant? They are inconsolable until their appetite is assuaged. When my son was a baby he would wake up at two in the morning – every morning – and scream until he got his bottle. That little bundle of joy could not be consoled until that bottle was firmly ensconced under his little lips.

As soon as he was sucking down that little baby elixir he would sigh a deep sigh of relief – whew finally some satisfaction! And that’s how Peter says the children of God are to desire the “sincere milk of the word.” My son wanted his milk because he was hungry. Those hunger pains are healthy signs of a growing boy. Peter says we are to desire the milk of the word so “we may grow thereby.”

Do you have hunger pains for God’s Word? If my son never had hunger pains and had no interest in eating I would conclude he was sick and take him to the doctor. If you never crave the “sincere mild of the word” perhaps you need a physician – a spiritual one. Without hunger there can be no growth; and perhaps it is an indication that there is no spiritual life.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). He is the great physician of our souls. If you don’t have those badly needed hunger pains, Jesus invites you to come, taste and see that the Lord is good! You’ll never look back once you do.