S) "12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant."
Hebrews 5:12-13 (NASB)
O) Keeping this passage in context, particularly the audience, is very important in seeing the real point being made. The Writer was speaking to Hebrew Christians. These were men and women who "grew up in the church," so-to-speak. Their whole lives, they had read the Scriptures, heard the prophesies, knew the basics of their history with The LORD. These were not Pharisees or Sadducees, though, so their eyes were not completely darkened, and their ears heard and accepted the gospel. They understood who Jesus was, and accepted it, believed it… and that's it. That's as far as they'd gotten. This is where the Writer was addressing them. Of all of the people in the new Christian culture that had just started emerging, these were the people who should have hit the ground running with the great commission. They should have been able to jump straight in, with spreading the gospel, making new disciples, and walking in righteousness. However, they weren't growing. They were stuck in infancy of faith, unwilling to chew on the meatier elements of discipleship to Jesus.
A) My wife once revealed one of her biggest annoyances, as far as it goes with excuses Christians cop, for why they stop going to a particular church. We've heard people say something like, "I just wasn't being fed there." She said she gets so annoyed, thinking to herself, "You're an adult; feed yourself" (or something like that). She nailed it. That's what this passage is all about. God wants us growing! We cain't be a true disciple, if we're content hearing the same soft message, over and over, without ever challenging our belief to become faith, by trial through action. I don't need to hear the gospel over and over (not that it's bad, mind you, just not enough to keep growing). I need to hear messages that will challenge me to live out my beliefs in ways that prove my faith. Hearing the gospel should always be a welcome, refreshing supplement, but it will stunt growth of that's all I ever hear. The analogy from Hebrews is so perfect! Milk will get me going, and be just enough to prevent death. In order to thrive, though, I'll need solid food. Milk will always be welcomed, and often be refreshing, but it will accompany the solid food. I don't want to be infantile in my faith.
P) Father, challenge me to grow. I see the mature things You have in store. I know there is deeper relationship with You to be had. I know there is more work to be done. All of this and more, before ever mentioning more blessings to be received. I want to grow, God. I worry that there may be things that have, and maybe continue to, stunt my growth. Purge my heart of those things, Father. Prune my branches as a vinedresser. Discipline me as a Father. Draw me up to Your higher standards, God. Open my eyes to see and ears to hear, so I can clearly know where work is to be done. Draw me close, so I am remembering what it's all about: communion with You. Protect me, that I do not bite off more than I can chew, but let me take on more solid food, along with some milk. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment