Spiritual growth is not an option for all children of God who want to end well and strong. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 2:2 admonishes us to desire the necessary spiritual nutrients that will help us grow. This verse of scripture points to some critical elements that are involved in the journey of spiritual growth. Firstly, spiritual newborn babies must desire the milk of God’s word. Secondly, the midwives that God uses as vessels to birth babies in His kingdom must make the milk of God’s word available to those who are eager to drink it. Thirdly, the milk of God's word given to spiritual babies must be the sincere type. In other words, it must contain a balanced diet for growth.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all Long suffering and doctrine.”
2nd Timothy 4: 2
From the above scripture, we understand that the milk of God’s word that will cause a believer to grow must include reproving of wrongdoing, rebuking the wrongdoer, patiently exhorting young believers to embrace righteousness even in the face of persecution that will definitely come, and teaching sound doctrines. A believer who is not ready to be established in the sound doctrines of the kingdom will soon fall into error and thus make shipwreck of his or her faith. Such are the seeds that fell on stony ground in the Lord's parable of the sower (Matthew 13:20-21).

Although every Christian needs to have a personal relationship with God, there is a place for every one of us to be impacted by the gifts that the Lord has set in His Church. In Ephesians 4:11-16 we are told that one of the reasons why Jesus bestowed ministry gifts upon certain individuals in His Church is for us to grow to the measure of the stature of His fullness (Ephesians 4:13). There is therefore a place for pastors, evangelists, teachers and all other ministry gifts in the spiritual development of all Christians.

Today’s devotional should not be seen as a mere admonition; it should rather be taken as a command from God to grow. To ministers of God: it is obligatory for us to see our spiritual children grow. To babies in the Faith: you must desire the sincere milk of God’s word and not the diluted motivational talks of these days which do not guarantee spiritual growth.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.