Five Minutes Daily with Luther - June 22

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. 1 Peter 2:2.

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Here he institutes a comparison, and would say: You are to be like those newborn babies who seek nothing but the milk; like them, striving for the breasts and milk, so you too, be eager for the Word; endeavor for it, have an appetite for it, that you may receive the intelligible, sincere milk. These words are, indeed, figurative; for he did not mean literal milk, or literal drinking, as he does not speak of a literal birth. But he speaks of another milk which belongs to the mind, which is spiritual, which is procured by the soul, which the heart must draw in. It must be, moreover, sincere (or unfalsified) , not as the custom is, to sell false wares; since there is truly strong obligation, and great necessity, that to the newborn and young Christian, the milk should be given pure and not corrupted. But this milk is nothing but the Gospel, which is also the same with seed, whereby we are conceived and born, as we have heard above. Yet it is also the food which nourishes us when we arrive at maturity; it is also the harness wherewith we equip and clothe ourselves — yes, it is all these at the same time. But whatever is appended to it is human doctrine, whereby the Word of God is falsified; therefore the Holy Spirit would have it so that every Christian shall see to it, what he drinks, and shall himself learn to decide in regard to all doctrines.

Lord, open Thou my heart to hear,
And through Thy Word to me draw near,
Let me Thy Word e’er pure retain,
Let me Thy child and heir remain.

Thy Word doth deeply move the heart,
Thy Word doth perfect health impart,
Thy Word my soul with joy doth bless,
Thy Word brings peace and blessedness.