(The following is the October 21 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Hebrews 5 and pay close attention to verses 11-14.)
Christian growth isn’t usually a straight upward path of maturity. We have seasons of leaps and bounds in our faith and understanding of God’s Word. Unfortunately, we also experience periods when our spiritual life seems stagnant, and we feel stuck, making no progress. Eventually, by God’s grace, we break through those low times if we remain faithful in the basic Christian disciplines such as Bible study, prayer, worship, giving, fellowship, and service.
What about those who never seem to mature in the faith? Hebrews 5 addresses Christian immaturity: “We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature – for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil” (vv. 11-14).
Healthy babies grow after birth. If they fail to do so, we know something is wrong. They start life on a milk diet but eventually move to solid foods. They develop language skills, understanding, and physical capabilities. Their unique, God-given personality comes into view. We should expect the same for those who experience new life in Christ. God’s Word is that solid food we must consume regularly. Through individual study and attending a church that faithfully preaches and teaches Scripture, we move beyond spiritual milk to solid foods that nourish and strengthen us.
Next Step:
During what seasons of your life have you grown most as a Christian? How recent have those been? If many years have passed, what needs to change to experience another season of growth?