Famine in the land ∙∙∙
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment. – 1 Peter 2:2
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.
7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up.
8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition occurs when an individual’s diet lacks the necessary nutrients for proper tissue and organ function. This condition can arise from an unbalanced diet or inadequate food intake. Malnutrition occurs when an individual’s diet lacks the necessary nutrients for proper tissue and organ function.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies malnutrition as one of the most serious threats to global public health. Alarmingly, it accounts for 45% of deaths among children under the age of five worldwide.
Spiritual Malnutrition: A Growing Concern in America
While physical malnutrition is a global crisis, spiritual malnutrition is a significant issue in America. Many Americans lack spiritual nourishment, as noted by George Gallup and Jim Castelli, who state, “Americans revere the Bible, but by and large, they don’t read it. As a result, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.”
Despite 81% of U.S. adults claiming to possess some knowledge of the Bible, the reality suggests otherwise. Research by the Barna Group has revealed several alarming trends concerning Bible knowledge reflected in the statistics.:
- Less than half (43%) can name the first five books of the Bible.
- 60% cannot name five of the Ten Commandments.
- 82% mistakenly believe the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.
- 12% of adults think Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife.
- Over 50% of high school seniors confuse Sodom and Gomorrah as a married couple.
- Many respondents believe Billy Graham preached the Sermon on the Mount.
A Paradox of Abundance and Deprivation
The Scriptures have never been more accessible in history. With a multitude of translations, formats, and digital options, the Bible is available to almost everyone. However, paradoxically, there is a famine, a famine of hearing, understanding, and internalizing the word of God.
The prophet Amos foretold such a spiritual famine in Amos 8:11, “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
Children of the King were once referred to as “people of one book.” They memorized, meditated on, and taught the Scriptures. Today, however, many are spiritually starving. As Kenneth Berding observes: “We don’t do that anymore, and in a very real sense, we’re starving ourselves to death.”
REFLECT & PRAY
The children of the King should earnestly seek nourishment from the Word of God with all their hearts.
Father, I acknowledge that there have been times when I have deeply craved Your word and felt that I could not live without it. However, there have also been times when I have neglected it. Please ignite and sustain within me a deep hunger for the spiritual food that can only be fulfilled by Your living word.
INSIGHT
Hunger for Pure Spiritual Milk
1 Peter 2:2-3 says: “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”
The Scriptures make it clear that all children of the King require spiritual food to maintain their health and growth. Just as newborn babies instinctively crave their mother’s milk, they cry out for it and demand it in their own way. For new parents, a newborn can feel like a demanding boss, spending much of their waking hours expressing their needs.
Newborns urgently cry out for milk, and similarly, we are called to seek spiritual nourishment, recognizing our dependence on the Word of God. However, unlike physical newborns, we never outgrow our need for the pure spiritual milk that only the Father provides. We should cultivate a strong and intense personal desire for this nourishment that never fades. It may seem unusual, but we are encouraged to seek hunger because when we are hungry, we are fed.
The Purity of Spiritual Milk
But not just any spiritual milk will do. Not all spiritual milk is the same. The milk we crave must be pure and untainted. It must be fresh and vibrant, spiritually nourishing and life-giving. The Greek word translated as “pure” is adolos, which means “without guile or deceit.” Dolos is the Greek word used for “fish bait.” Adolos connotes being “honest, truthful, pure, unadulterated, and sincere.”
In the United States, the FDA ensures the purity of baby food, but when it comes to spiritual nourishment, the responsibility lies solely with us. Suppose the spiritual food we consume is tainted, whether by false teachings, distractions, or diluted truths, our spiritual health will suffer. Tragedy of tragedies, pure milk is hard to find in a land of plenty.
A Famine in the Land
Despite living in a time of abundance, where the Word of God is more accessible than ever, we face a spiritual famine. As Amos 8:11 warns, “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
This famine is not just a lack of spiritual nourishment but also a silence from God. When people seek His guidance, encouragement, or direction, they often find themselves met with silence. How awful!
Why does this happen? In the days of Amos, injustice and rebellion reigned. The people’s unrepentant hearts and willful disobedience led to the Father withholding His Word. Amos 4:12 declares, “Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”
The outcome was catastrophic. Without the Word of God, there was no light in the darkness, no nourishment for the soul, no guidance for decisions, and no defense against the lies of the enemy. As Wiersbe notes, “What a tragedy to have plenty of ‘religion’ but no Word from the Lord! The people would stagger like drunks from place to place, always hoping to find food and drink for their bodies and spiritual sustenance for their souls.”
The Life-Giving Power of God’s Word
God’s Word is not just a source of knowledge; it is life itself. It gives life, nourishes life, and sustains life. As Wiersbe explains, “We should have appetites for the Word just like hungry newborn babes! We should want the pure Word, unadulterated, because this alone can help us grow.”
However, many children of the King today lack this appetite for God’s Word. Instead, they often turn to religious entertainment or diluted teachings to fill the void. Wiersbe shares a personal anecdote that highlights this concern. “When I was a child, I did not like to drink milk (and my father worked for the Borden Dairy!), so my mother used to add various syrups and powders to make my milk tastier. None of them really ever worked. It is sad when Christians have no appetite for God’s Word but must be ‘fed’ religious entertainment instead.”
Developing a Taste for the Word
Just as infants naturally crave their mother’s milk, we are called to develop a taste and passion for the life-giving Word of God. Growing in Christ requires spending time in His Word, meditating on it, and allowing it to transform us. Charles Stanley reminds us, “As infants have a taste and a craving for their mothers’ nutritious milk, so we are to develop a taste and a passion for the life-giving Word of God. Growing in Christ requires spending time in His Word.”
Are you craving the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word? Take time to reflect on your spiritual diet and ask yourself if it is nourishing your soul or leaving you spiritually malnourished.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 