Daily Butter 7/3: Waahhh!!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/3/2011):

Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3 HCSB)

While Dennis Fisher found inspiration in the animal kingdom for drawing on these verses in what he wrote in today’s ODB, my mind went to an experience last evening. While at the checkout, a lady had her infant son in a carrier in her cart and the child was just letting the world know he was not happy. She tried to calm the boy saying things like “Mommy’s almost done” and “It’ll be okay” and the usual things I hear parents say. It seemed a bit odd to me when she said to him “You can eat soon” as it was late in the evening (almost 9pm). In her conversation with the cashier, she commented how the boy is always hungry and how he over doubled in weight in his first months of life. “Like newborn infants” became very vivid to me as I read it this morning.

In my current work situation, I do not make it to worship as often as I would like, and I am sure my wife can attest that I get cranky and crabby and hard to live with just like that infant if I go too long without food (both spiritual and physical). In the hustle and bustle, I often neglect to set aside the time to get my needed nourishment. My Daily Butter started for me as a way to keep myself consistently getting scriptural nourishment – both the insights from the ODB authors and my “journaling” what I glean from the focus passage as a form of accountability sent to my wife and others – by taking time during breaks and slow moments at my night job. As my spirit becomes better nourished and grows, I also get frustrated and better understand Paul’s statement, ”For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:14 HCSB)

I have tasted. I know that He is good. Why does setting aside time to spend with Him still seem like such a chore?

For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin. (Romans 7:22-25 HCSB)

Andy Jentes