Friday, July 10, 2009

Short Thoughts for Today

So much can be taken from today's passage of scripture out of Hebrews chapter five. In verse thirteen we read, "For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." I will endeavor to keep today's short thoughts brief.

There is much to rejoice about when someone is brought to faith in Christ by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is good to be a babe in Christ! But we must acknowledge that remaining a babe is not consistent with the will of-God. As we saw in yesterday's passage, sufficient time had passed since learning the elementary truths of the faith, that they should have been teachers of what they knew. There should have been a maturation process whereby God could use them to teach others. But this had not happened, and consequently those who should now be teachers had the need to be taught again themselves the elementary principles.

Oh, how we ought to long to be "accustomed to the word of righteousness". Not for knowledge sake, but for the sake of knowing the Savior more intimately. I'm mindful of the Apostle Paul's purpose statement in Philippians chapter 3 which includes, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection". As we grow in our faith in Christ, the milk of the word nourishes us and as we mature through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, prepares us to partake of solid food, the more weighty truths of the word if you will.

The pure milk of the word and the solid food of the word are each important and are intended to work together. The milk prepares us for the solid food and the solid food is dependent upon the nourishment and growth that has come from the milk. By His mercy and grace let us seek to grow in Christ and not remain babes, well past the time of our infancy. This will be well pleasing to Him.

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