A Light in the Darkness

  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV                 To desire milk at the start is good, but only as it is directed to growth. As Peter goes on to say in verses 4-6 all believers are being built up in Christ. To start with milk is good, but to stay with it and never to have real meat is bad see 1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12. It is unnatural that an appetite should not develop in the saint who in being a saint must have tasted to see that the Lord is good.             First then the appetite must be examined to see if it is healthy. It ought first to desire purity. The saint should accept no substitute for the truth, and delight in nothing deluded with lies.   As a babe might protest if its supper is lacking in the much needed nutrient, so ought the believer to rebel against any poor instruction. This demand of purity ought never to cease, for who wi

  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.   Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.   Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:12-16 ESV             The call of Christ to come further up and further in is truly wonderful in its extent: in every sense we might employ that word “extent”. Paul is writing after two missionary journeys, planting numerous churches, seeing multitudes come to faith, writing most of his epistles, training others, and sending them out. Still there is something more to attain. Even in prison and apparently nearer the end than the begin

  But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:9 ESV             Paul gives similar instruction in 1 Timothy 1:4, and 2 Timothy 2:16, 23. There are some matters which fascinate us, drawing us into a depth of information, and involving us in an ongoing dialogue. We think ourselves feasting upon great things spiritually and intellectually. And we shall continue to think this for the dialogue has no end, nor any legitimate point. We have been caught in a trap of speculation which feeds only our pride while causing the rest of to waste away from lack of nourishment.             Distraction keeps us from profitable use of our times. We remain weak, immature, and uniformed as we have learned very little for all our studies. If ever we awake to reality we may be overcome by frustration leading to despair, and perhaps apostasy.             Not only are we harmed, but Paul warns that involvement w