Office 970-454-3411

Hebrews 5

Good Morning “Meat Eaters.”  Today we are in Hebrews
5.

We all grow up and mature physically. We no longer live on a milk diet.  It’s just part of the process.  We would think it odd if it was different.  Not only that, our bodies wouldn’t function well.  We need more to live, milk is no longer sufficient to sustain us.  We need more to function.  More for strength and endurance.  We NEED real food, solid food! Often for us that means MEAT!  

Here the writer uses that idea as an analogy regarding our spiritual maturity.

“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! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“By this time you ought to be teachers.”  This passage is convicting isn’t it? It doesn’t mean that one day we’re learning the basics and then boom, after conviction - suddenly I’m a teacher.  We cannot skip the growing process.  Offer an infant a piece of steak and they may go ahead and take it.  Without teeth and the ability to process it, you’re in trouble.  It’s not going to end well.

So what is the passage as a whole saying?  If we indeed are processing or applying all that we learn we should be moving on to the next thing - growing up.  Our lives should reflect that growth.  By continual application of the Truth we study, we grow up - then are able to determine good from evil, right from wrong.  We finally begin to get it!  

“…who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

The constant use part can’t be skipped.  We don’t mature and get stronger without growth work.  Consider the weight room. Without work we’re not strong enough to push the big weight!  Try it too soon, and look out - someone is gonna get hurt.  Big weight strength takes years to develop!  

I absolutely believe the lack of daily Scripture study, followed by application, is the reason we SEE so many blurred lines in our world today - even within the church. The lines aren’t REALLY blurred!  We simply don’t have the Biblical maturity to see them as they REALLY are - black and white.

A teacher who can’t determine good from evil, right from wrong - especially in the seemingly grey areas is a dangerous thing.  That doesn’t mean throw up the hands and give up if we’re not mature enough to teach others.  It means we get to work so we can.  It’s the expectation.  Matt. 28:19-20 - make Disciples. Making Disciples requires, and assumes we know what we’re talking about.

Love you all!  Dig in and live it out!