A diminishing hunger for spiritual matters is a prevalent issue in today’s world. So, what steps can we take to rekindle our desire for the divine? Should we passively wait for a renewed spiritual awakening? Is it enough to hope for a better future? Should we succumb to the prevalent sense of apathy within the American church? The Bible provides clear guidance on this matter. The Apostle Peter offers profound insights into both the causes and remedies for this spiritual malaise.
The Root Cause
A spiritually healthy believer is a hungry believer—one who yearns for the things of God. Consider the example of a newborn baby:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word…” — 1 Peter 2:2.
This imagery underscores a natural and intense craving for nourishment. Similarly, a believer’s soul should long for spiritual sustenance. Job esteemed God’s Word above his necessary food (Job 23:12). Psalm 1 speaks of delighting and meditating on the law of God (Psalm 1:2). Jeremiah found great delight by partaking of God’s words (Jeremiah 15:16).
However, certain factors can suppress this spiritual appetite. Peter identifies five hindrances that diminish one’s craving for spiritual nourishment (1 Peter 2:1):
- Malice: An all-encompassing term referring to wickedness, baseness, and ill-willed intentions, including desires for revenge and wishing harm upon others.
- Deceit: Dishonesty, falsehood, and treachery. Nathaniel was commended for having “no guile” (John 1:47), highlighting the importance of sincerity.
- Hypocrisy: Pretending to be what one is not. It encompasses behaviors that contradict what one claims to believe or feel.
- Envy: Resentment toward others who possess what one desires. This can lead to grudges, hatred, and bitterness.
- Slander: Making false and damaging statements about others, often behind their backs. John Wesley defined slander as anything said behind a person’s back that wouldn’t be said to their face.
These attitudes and behaviors are detrimental to spiritual growth and must be laid aside to restore a healthy spiritual appetite.
The Remedy
To rekindle our spiritual hunger, we must first rid ourselves of these hindrances. Peter exhorts believers to:
“Lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…”— 1 Peter 2:1
This act of laying aside is akin to stripping off soiled garments. It symbolizes the removal of sin and impurity.
Next, we are called to: “Desire the sincere milk of the word…” (1 Peter 2:2). Just as a newborn craves its mother’s milk, believers should earnestly long for the pure, unadulterated Word of God. This desire is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.
Jesus emphasized the importance of spiritual nourishment when He said:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). Our growth in godliness is directly proportional to our hunger for God’s Word. Without a healthy appetite for Scripture, spiritual weakness and stagnation are inevitable. Therefore, the pivotal question is: “How strong is my appetite for the truth of Scripture?”
To cultivate a deeper spiritual hunger, believers must:
- Repent of Sin: Confess and turn away from the five hindrances identified by Peter as well as other hunger-killers.
- Esteem God’s Word: Value and prioritize Scripture above all else, as did Job and Jeremiah.
- Long for Spiritual Nourishment: Develop an intense desire for the pure milk of the Word, recognizing that spiritual growth depends on it.
In conclusion, just as physical hunger drives us to seek nourishment, spiritual hunger compels us to seek God’s Word. By removing the barriers to our appetite and earnestly desiring the pure milk of the Word, we position ourselves for growth and maturity in our faith.
Harold Vaughan
