1 Corinthians 3

You know how The Word of God is alive? How it teaches you different things without changing its own content?

That held true for me when reading this passage. Maybe it’s the phase of life I’m in specifically, but I felt kind of slapped in the face and challenged as soon as I started reading.

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

You see, I have these two kids; these two beautiful, amazing, exhausting kids. A fabulous firecracker of a two-year-old boy, and a precious, sleep-evading-cherub five-month-old girl. And, lately, my daughter has been watching me…really watching me…whenever I eat. Her huge blue eyes try to make sense of what I’m doing, and her perfect little mouth opens as if to say, “Why can’t I have that?”
But, she doesn’t eat solid food yet. She still only drinks milk for her sustenance.
The thing that made me feel slapped was the realization that she wants to eat solid food, and then applying that thought to this passage.

Paul says that he gave them milk in the spiritual sense because they were still worldly, and not ready for solid food. They showed themselves to be unready because of their behavior: jealousy and quarreling, acting out in their humanity instead of their spiritual nature.

How many times in my spiritual life am I content with the bare minimum? Content to only process what I am given or fed by someone else, instead of maturing to the next stage? What is keeping me from wanting solid, spiritual food? I suppose it is a simple analogy, and also a simple truth…but it rang full of meaning for me as I began to recognize the attitudes that I have which are worldly, and therefore reflect my un-readiness for more hearty spiritual growth.

Lord, please help me to rely on the foundation that was given to me for my faith by Your Word and others who love You, but help me to also pursue You, and have a hunger to do so, so that I may build upon that foundation and grow closer to You. Help me live by the Spirit - let my behavior and attitude reflect Christ, and not myself. Amen.

Jennifer Chandler | Student Minsitry Leader, Pastor's Wife, Mom

Jennifer is married to our Associate Pastor, Sean Chandler. They are the proud parents of two little ones:  Liam & Chloe. Jennifer is currently serving in Student Minsitry as a leader of High School girls.