It was in a BBC article,Your pictures of Scotland: 10 – 17 April, that the thought was provoked in Coco’s head. The article contains several quite delightful photographs including one of a short-eared owl in flight near Caithness, but it was not this that inflamed Coco’s thoughts.

But rather one of some large mammals in a field. The caption catches the attention:

Surely we must be careful of our diet. It important for our bodies – too much arsenic may promote an early and unwelcome disorganisation of the machines, processes and factories that maintain their proper economy enabling the organs of the body to function in their vital states but the ingestion of the odd apple or two may, despite the arsenic risk, actually help to keep the doctor away if part of a daily routine.

It is important also for our souls. Peter tells us that a new born babes we are to desire the pure spiritual milk of the Word¹. If we do not understand the world in which we live correctly then we shall make mistakes with both inanimate things and animate beings. We shall not treat people as we ought. We shall not live as we ought.

But we are not to remain as those who only drink milk. As new born babes, the apostle said, but babes grow up and need stronger food². The Apostle writing to one group of believers expresses his disappointment that his readers are still living as babes. Why do they not grow up, he has asked them, that they may be given solid food. He then goes on to tell them what those elementary matters³ are. Some of you if you read the list may wonder why it is that the Apostle calls these things elementary having not understood them. If you do, then you fall into that same group who are still only drinking milk. We are to move on from that.

Paul, elsewhere, writes to the Corinthian church⁴ telling them also that they had not grown up. Why do they only take milk?

The answer lies in that we have not developed our appetites. The Englishman, though Coco may suppose their may not be many of them now, who has only tasted the bland food of his fathers, will find it hard to swallow the exotic medley of the subcontinent. They have not listened to the words of the Psalmist⁵. When we consider the works of the Lord both in nature and in the redemption of men by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, giving himself to pay the penalty for our sins and to prepare the way the lift the curse that lies upon this world⁶ because of Adam’s⁷ sin. If we ingest the wrong food, we shall either grow stuntedly, not quite like horses becoming sheep, and in ignorance of the true God.

Let us then feed not only our bodies but our souls, hearts and minds that we may grow in the knowledge of God our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and not remain in ignorance of all that he has done for us by reading his Word, meditating upon it, digesting it, and putting it in practice in our daily living. .

1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:2-3 ↩︎
2. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 ↩︎
3. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3 ↩︎
4. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 ↩︎
5. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
   The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
   The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
   The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
   The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
   The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
   More to be desired are they than gold,
   Yea, than much fine gold;
   Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
   Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
   And in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19 ↩︎
6. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:20-22 ↩︎
7. Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:17-19 ↩︎