A Newborn Babe



Newborn babes in Christ. They're such a joy to behold. I love them. Just as with newborn children, we realize their defenselessness, their helplessness. Parents realize only so much can be done for an infant. This holds true for newborns in Christ. For newborn Christians, we can counsel them to read the Bible daily, sufficiently beginning to get His Word down. This way they can know the right and the wrong way. We can encourage them to seek education in His Word, seek Christian entertainment to uplift in Christ and challenge, to pray to Him and praise Him.
One thing we can't do. We can't do it for them. If a person doesn't personally endeavor, he'll eventually wither and be in risk of dying.

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  
 1 Peter 2:1-3

New Christians, who are "newborn babes", should desire the "sincere milk of the word". The food for babies is milk. The food for Christians is the Word of God, our Bible. When a baby is hungry he lets you know in no uncertain terms that he wants to be fed. He demands it! A baby that must be fed with the parent saying, "now you have to eat" is a sickly baby indeed. If a baby doesn't let you know he's hungry, just laying there until you happen to bring food, is a cause of great concern. If the situation isn't remedied soon, there will be impending death.

What about babes in Christ? If they don't cry for more food, if they don't seek food, this warns of impending death. Something must be done soon!

I've seen newborns begin reading their Bibles substantially. They wanted to know what's right, and get to know their Father. After a couple of weeks they were reading substantially less and then, a little later, about half that. These symptoms are very serious. If our commitment is only propelled by emotional excitement, we're in grave danger. That excitement will eventually wane. It's like the romance of a man and woman. Romance isn't all the relationship is based on. If it is, it will soon be over.

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.           
Hebrews 10:24, 25

We find this encouragement to assemble with the other Christians. We're not to stop. This is sandwiched between verse 23 through verses 26-31, with warnings of staying faithful to Christ, and not walking away from Him. This indicates assembling together and receiving exhortation in the Word and ways of God are vital to keep from falling. This shows how desperately important it is for us to be zealous to learn His ways and live after Him. The outcome looks bleak otherwise.
The early church was filled with Christians who were steadfast in the teachings of Jesus. Acts 2:40-47 tells how they continued daily seeking to learn of God and encouraging one another. This fervency isn't abnormal. It's normal! When once a week hearing about God seems to be enough, and we don't pursue that too actively, demanding like the baby his mother's milk, deadly sickness is present. The ease of the world seems to be the greatest carrier of this disease. The way of ease is what many Americans have lived. A life of diligence is quite a change. As I've said, the emotional propellant will lessen, and unless we're committed to His discipleship, we'll turn down a dangerous road no one can pull us out of. We must pursue our own spiritual health.
The excuse of, "You don't know how hard it is being around non-Christians at work" and "the demons are so oppressive" doesn't stack up.
Jesus promised:

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.    Matthew 5:6

If you diligently want Him, nothing will keep you from being victorious. Nothing! He has overcome all. I've seen people who say, "Yeah, yeah!" to this, looking a little excited, but as soon as they're gone, they get back in the old rut they came in on, with no difference at all. James warned us:

22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.   
James 1:22-25

I beg of you, seek God's diligence for your own soul. He loves you and will give you the desire, the commitment, and the strength to pursue Him if only you will fervently and honestly want Him!

Let any apathy warn of a need to call on Him for help to be fervent for Him. He can place in you the necessary change, if it's not there. Just be honest with God and be willing. Let's hear the healthy scream of the baby lungs demanding to be fed. With God, midnight feedings aren't a problem!


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Free to Copy under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND3.0 License by Darrell Farkas
All quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible


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