Spiritual Infants
What would you think if you saw a woman in a store with a large child who was walking around like a five-year-old but was sucking on a bottle of milk, didn't talk, but rather just made noises and cried when it wanted something?
What would you say if you learned that the large child with a full set of teeth was living on a diet of milk only?
That would seem somewhat strange, would it not?
Believe it or not, a person can be a believer for many years and still be an infant spiritually. This idea is presented to us in the Word of God.
Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first 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 unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The Letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were likely facing persecution and were tempted to abandon their faith in Jesus Christ and return to Judaism. The letter encourages them to remain steadfast in their belief, emphasizing the superiority of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant over the old Jewish system.
Here in Chapter Five, they are being challenged to consider their current state. They've been in the faith long enough to have obtained a grasp on things considered to be solid food, but they indicate they have yet to grasp the first principles of the word of God. Instead, they are being tempted to dabble with the Judaical practices once again and using the law as their means of understanding the difference between good and evil. The writer of the letter refers to this as needing milk due to not being capable of handling the solid food of truth.
Then it is made clear that everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Whenever someone leaves the New Covenant teaching on righteousness and returns to another means for obtaining or maintaining it, and for knowing the difference between good and evil through that alternate means, they are being babes.
His righteousness now ours is the gateway to fellowship with Him and the lifestyle of dwelling in Him and having Him dwell in us. It is a full-on 24/7 365 days a year relationship that lets us know whenever there is something out of step with who He is. This is why it says Solid belongs to those who are full of age, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
If you have ever sat down with a family that has healthy relationships and shared a meal, experiencing the engagement and joy of their connection, and then had dinner with a broken family struggling to spend time together, you should know the difference. If you do not yet know the difference, it means you need milk instead of solid food. The word of righteousness is all about a healthy relationship with God, manifesting joy and thankfulness. I trust this day's devotional finds you full of age. Be blessed in His righteousness and the joy it produces.
