MATURING ON SOLID FOOD

Hebrews 5:13-14    

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

These verses are, in a sense, a rebuke to those who should be mature in their faith, mature in their understanding of God's Word, but who still drink milk like an infant in faith. I read this, and I'm compelled to pray for maturity in my own life, in my family and the people around me, as well as the church that I'm part of, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, I want to grow in maturity. I want to help others grow in maturity, and I would encourage you to grow in maturity.

We cannot be content to drink spiritual milk like infants and not grow in our feasting on God's Word. As believers who have trusted Christ for our salvation we are to develop in our Christian walk and advance from simply taking in the pure milk of the Word to feeding on the strong meat of everything that proceeds from the mouth of God. We are to walk each day in spirit and truth as we regularly read, mark, learn, study, inwardly digest, and practice the truth that we have been taught from the Word of God.

Everyone expects a litile child to eventually grow out of only drinking milk for food. If the child does not start to eat regular food, everyone will be very concerned with his health. Here the author talks about anyone who is living on milk is not acquainted with righteousness. What is this "milk"? It is the very basics of the Gospel message that Jesus came to the earth, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the dead, that He forgives sins, and that He will return some day. This is very good, but there is more to righteousness than this.

One who is eating the solid food of God's Word is learning the details of what it means to live a righteous and holy life. The only way to learn all this information is by getting into the Bible on a daily basis and studying every part of it. The person who studies the Bible in this way will learn what God loves, hates, desires, despises, and wants him to do or not to do. This is where he learns how to distinguish good from evil. It is a deeper understanding of righteousness. It is not easy to do this. It takes constant discipline to stay in God's Word and apply it correctly in life. The person who does not eat the solid meat of God's Word is still an infant, not knowing good and evil yet.

As maturing Christians, we should desire an increasingly intentional intimate relationship with our Lord and set our hearts on things above and not on the things of this earth. We are to remember that we are in Christ and that in Him, we died to our old sinful past, and our life is now hidden with Christ in God!!!

Father, thank You for this day and for Your amazing, unending love. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friends' and family's portion today. Lord, we pray that we may grow in grace and become spiritually mature. Lord, we pray that as we submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we may become increasingly like the Lord Jesus, as we live and work to Your Praise and glory. Lord, help us to have our senses trained to discern what is good and what is evil, so we may discern those teachings and teachers that distort the word of truth and stand fast on the unchanging and unchangeable Word of God. Lord, use my friends to be a voice of Your gospel in the wilderness of this world.

Father, we love You. Amen.