|
|
|
Hebrews 5:12-14
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! 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.
New International Version (NIV)
| |
|
How are we progressing in our spiritual growth. I only ask because growth is not guaranteed. Our granddaughter Josie has recently graduated to solid foods. When we kept her this weekend, we not only fed her bottles but food her mom had prepared. Remember Gerber? We did not use their food, though our grandbabies’ pictures would look good on the jars! Like her Doc, she likes to eat and she loves fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, peaches, sweet potatoes, and green beans are her favorites. Today. When she finishes, she absolutely exults in having eaten and she entertains us with loud cheers and beautiful gyrations of her arms.
This is how it should be. Imagine a fifteen year old still drinking from a baby bottle. If we saw this we would think it was a joke or that something was seriously wrong. The writer of Hebrews tells about Jesus, the great High Priest who prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane with fervent cries and tears as he became the source of salvation for all who believe. We want to know more, but the writer says his readers are not ready. By now these students ought to be teachers. But they are still not eating solid spiritual food.
Do we expect to grow spiritually? Our teaching about salvation as an event rather than a process works against us here. In truth, salvation is both. But if we miss the process we stunt our growth. Notice the writer’s measure of growth: by constantly using the solid food of the word, we train ourselves to discern the difference between good and evil. Like our little Josie and Nory we have to eat every day. Imagine a child saying to a parent, “I ate on Sunday, why should I eat the rest of the week?” Great, sumptuous banquets of excellent spiritual nourishment are available in our generation. I listen to preachers from the East and West coasts and from all over the world. Are you still eating? Nourishing ourselves on solid spiritual food enables us to progress in sanctification. Our walk with Christ is not about trying harder but about training. We read the scriptures not to get through them but until they get through to us. Let’s make a commitment together: today will be a day of growth in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. We will know him better at the end of this day than we do now. Are you in?
| |
|
Pray with me:
Father, we thank you for Jesus, our great High Priest who still prays for us, even as we pray. Hear his prayer and the groans of the Holy Spirit on our behalf today. We want to know you, not just know about you. Whatever year the letter to the Hebrews was written, and whoever wrote it, Lord, help us to apply it to our lives today. Draw near to us as we draw near to you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
| |
|
Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
| |
| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
| |
|
|
|
|
