Quench

My grandson has an affinity for milk. He does not want coke, or juice, or koolaid, he wants milk. At almost three, he can verbalize that milk is what he has to have. He will drink other liquids if they are placed before him in his sippy cup, but as soon as he finishes, he says, "I'm ready for my milk now." He will drink milk all day long and never grow tired of it. It is the first thing he wants in the morning, even before a hug and the last thing he wants at night, it is his dessert. He never, at least not once since he's been here, asks for anything else. I don't know if it is the flavor that he likes, or the nutritional value that his body craves or just the fact that milk is soothing and comforting and quenches his thirst. He just loves milk.
I wish I had that same kind of craving for the Word of God. The kind where I just had to be in the holy scriptures several times a day. The kind that made me need it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The kind of craving that made everything else unsatisfying. Can you imagine watching a show on television anticipating the end credits so you could hurry and get into the Word. Going to a game or a race and hurrying home so you could study? Wouldn't it be great to really, I mean really, crave the flavor of the Word? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we found the Word soothing and comforting? If it was the only thing that quenched our thirst? If we wanted to partake in the spiritual nutrition offered by the Word? What if we just couldn't ever get enough?
I don't drink milk very often. Every once in a blue moon, if we are having chocolate cake with chocolate icing, a nice small, glass of cold milk sounds good. I don't like the taste of milk, I don't like the way it sits in my stomach or the way it feels on my tongue. I know I drank it when I was a small child. I probably even asked for it then. And yes, I know all the data about calcium intake and vitamin d and all the healthy advantages of drinking milk. But, I still don't like it. I forced myself to drink it when I was pregnant and breastfeeding. I even tried to set a good examply for my children by choking down a glass with them. I don't have a taste for milk and milk is not something I would crave. I know I don't drink enough milk. I have instead chosen to supplement my nutritional needs with vitamins and such. I should drink more milk but I would rather drink iced tea or Dr. Pepper or coffee, none of which are nutritious or have the benefits of milk.
Sadly, many of us have the same sort of consumption of the Word as I do milk. There was a point in our lives when we were new babes in Christ and we just couldn't get enough. Then we allowed the sweet taste of other literature, other entertainment to alter our desires. We then started supplementing our spiritual needs with groups and rallies and fellowships, with spiritual activities. These are great and important but they are no substitute for time in the Book. There may have been times when we were becoming parents or when our children were small that we really fed on the Word, realizing it was important to their spiritual well-being. And later, we started evening family devotions, ( many of us stopped and started this several times ) we let our children see us reading the Word, for awhile. But, we got busy and those times were the easiest to let go. Occasionally now, we still feed on the Word, but the time, the setting and everything else has to be just right, and even then we only want a small taste. We continue to substitute and supplement, hoping or almost expecting to mature spiritually healthy and fully functioning.
I love that little Kyle desires milk. I love that even when he is offered a choice, he chooses milk. I love that he looks forward to a glass of milk and seems to enjoy it so much. Oh, that I had the same affinity for God's Word. I know the Holy Scriptures provide all the nuturing, comfort and spiritual nutrition we need. I know time listening to God is important for long life, maturity and health. I know that there is a power in the Word, a power that will quench my thirst like nothing else. And just perhaps it is an acquired taste--------one that requires tasting!

Peace
Neva