HEBREWS 5

Hebrews 5

12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

Growing Up

As of one month and two days ago, I am the proud parent of a one month old and a nearly two year old.  One child is on a strictly milk diet, and the other is on a food plus milk diet.  So, this particular passage (and the running illustration) connects with me on a very practical level.  Right now I am watching as my oldest moves towards a more mature diet, and I have a newborn who is exclusively on newborn milk.

The challenge for each of us as believers is to move beyond spiritual milk to spiritual solid food.  The tricky part is defining what that means without being legalistic.  I can't say what that means for you, but I do know that it means a continual process of taking bigger steps.

Our sin nature seems to incline us to settle spiritually.  We get comfortable at a particular spot.  If we're not falling into sin, we feel we're doing okay.  True contentment and joy is found in a deep relationship with Christ.  This requires us not to settle for mediocre spirituality, but to constantly pursue depth with our Savior.  

Maturity

Working with teenagers, I find that students have a variety of responses to the challenge to continue growing.  Some ask me for books to read on theology. Others will actually challenge me and ask me direction questions.  Others seem to see maturity merely as behaving better.  

I view growing in maturity as both growing in your knowledge of and surrender to God.  Maturity involves finding your joy and contentment in Christ Himself.  Knowledge without application creates pride, but application without knowledge is shallow religion.  Maturity comes when we both grow in our knowledge and application of the Word. The on-going challenge for each of us is that we would desire to both know and apply more.

So, what is your next step?  Have you stopped growing in your knowledge or your application?  Perhaps you're right on track, and growing in both areas.  The important thing is that you're constantly seeking to move towards greater levels of depth in your relationship with God.

 SEAN CHANDLER  |  Associate Pastor 

Sean has been a part of the association of Hill Country Bible Churches for over twenty years. He received Christ as a youth while attending Hill Country Bible Church Austin. He attended Hill Country Bible Church NW from 1989 to 2002. At that time he began attending HCBC Pflugerville. He served as a student ministry intern there for two years. In 2008, Sean graduated from Columbia International University with a double major in Bible and Bible teaching. Sean married his wife, Jennifer, in 2006. Their first child, Liam, was born in 2012.

He blogs regularly at seanchandler.net.