There is a sobering passage in the 5th Chapter of Hebrews 12 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, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
The author of Hebrews bluntly tells the 1st century church that they are not spiritually mature. He tells them that though they ought to be grown teachers, they are still in the nursery and “need milk” for nourishment and “not solid foods.” In other words, they are still spiritual “infants.” When they should be eating steak so that they can mature, they have to have nourish on baby formula. Pretty convicting!
How do you get to the point that your system can eat spiritually solid food and become a thriving, healthy, fit spiritual adult? Here is what the Hebrew author says.
- The baby Christians are not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. In other words, they are not only in the world, they are of the world (ignoring the teaching regarding God’s righteousness). There is very little difference if any in their lives than those who are not Christians. They remain in a life that is driven by the flesh and remain infants spiritually. The Apostle Paul states this in Romans 8 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death (spiritually separated from God with no ability to mature), but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
- Now, let’s look at what a mature Christians looks like in Hebrews 5:14, 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. It is clear here. The way a person matures spiritually is by practicing “the teaching about righteousness”…who practice God’s word. Practice means training to do something right…to develop Godly “discernment” so that you know what needs to be done then you do it!
James, the actual half-brother of Jesus, says it this way in his book chapter 1, 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…being not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James is real clear hear. If you are going to mature no longer remaining a spiritual baby, be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Be a doer and not just a hearer!
It’s time to grow!
Barnabas Man 