Sure, You Sleep Like a Baby. But Do You Eat Like a Baby? Hebrews 5:11-6:1.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inSpiritual MaturityTags:, , ,

Do you remember baby food? That strange, mild-flavored mush, served at room temperature? Want some? You never do see parents eating it, serving strained peas and whipped carrots at Thanksgiving dinner, right? Honestly, it’s kind of nasty.

But the writer of Hebrews (I think it’s Paul, but no one is sure) brings up baby food:

“Concerning Jesus, I have much to say, and it is hard to explain, because you have become hard of hearing [poor listeners]. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk cannot consume the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice, have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the simpler teachings about Christ, let us press on to maturity….” Hebrews 5:11-6:1.

The writer says his readers have stopped growing. “You should be teachers,” but you’ve plateaued. You’re stuck drinking milk when your body is ready for steak. You eat applesauce but you have the teeth for apples.

Do we do that spiritually? MOST Christians do. It is easy to go to church and be spoon-fed by preachers and teachers.

But who gets spoonfed? Where does the term come from? Babies—in high chairs. Nothing wrong with that, if you’re a BABY.

But if you’re not—if God has brought you as far as college or beyond—you have the tools, the teeth, to start teaching yourself! Start reading the Bible on your own. Read books ABOUT the Bible. Ask hard questions. Research the answers. Find the STEAK! It is truly satisfying when you do, I promise. It is amazing. 

I read all of Hebrews today, and it is DEEP. It is tough. Trust me, Paul’s letters* to the churches alone could keep you busy studying for the rest of your life. The Bible is FILLED with meat. You have to get beyond baby food and spoonfeeding, and begin mining God’s word for treasure. It’s so rewarding!

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  • I am one who believes Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, but no author is listed so you cannot be sure.

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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