Eat and Grow
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I read and meditate on Your Word today, may it help me grow and mature in my faith.
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
[11] We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. [12] In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! [13] Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. [14] But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. [1] Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, [2] instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [3] And God permitting, we will do so. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is the writer urging and commending here?The author of Hebrews is concerned that his readers still need to be taught the basics of Christian faith before they can mature in righteousness. Instead of being able to pass on to others what they have learned, they need repeat lessons themselves. The analogy is striking. Of course a baby needs milk to begin with, but soon solid food must be introduced to the diet. If it isn’t, the baby won’t grow properly into an adult. Also, a baby needs to be fed, whereas even a young child begins to feed itself. It’s the same with faith. When people come to faith, the plan should be that they begin to grow right away. “Baby” believers need to understand the basics at first, and then their faith needs to grow so that they develop into mature Christians. If they don’t, the church stays full of immature believers. We can take responsibility for some of that ourselves, but churches also need to have a framework that enables people to grow up rather than keeping them spiritual “babies.” You only grow by being given solid food, and by eating it.
Apply
What’s the “food” like in your church? What are you doing to continue to grow in Christian maturity?
Closing prayer
Pray for those in your church and elsewhere who have the responsibility of helping others to grow in their faith.
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