Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 8
Saturday


ORANGES OR
MILK?

READ:
Hebrews 5:5-14
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Solid food belongs to
those who are of full
age. __Hebrews
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When I told my young daughter that a 3-month-old baby boy was coming to our house for a visit, she was delighted. With a child's sense of hospitality, she suggested that we share some of our food with the baby; she thought he might enjoy a juicy orange from the bowl on our kitchen counter. I explained that the baby could drink only milk, but that he might like oranges when he was older.

The Bible uses a similar concept to describe a believer's need for spiritual food. The basic truths of Scripture are like milk__they help new Christians thrive and grow (1 Peter 2:2-3). In contrast, "Solid food belongs to those who are of full age" (Heb. 5:14). Believers who have had time to digest and understand the basics can move on to investigate other biblical concepts and begin to teach others these truths. The rewards of spiritual maturity are discernment (v.14), godly wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6), and the ability to communicate God's truth to others (Heb. 5:12).

Like a loving parent, God wants us to grow spiritually. He knows that feeding only on spiritual milk is not in our best interest. He wants us to move on so we can enjoy the taste of solid food. __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

``````````````````Dear Lord, please deepen my understanding``````````````````
````````````````````of Your Word. Let Your Holy Spirit guide```````````````````
```````````````````me and enlighten my heart as I pursue Your`````````````````
`````````````````````truth so that I might walk in Your ways.``````````````````
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Spiritual growth occurs when faith is cultivated.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 5:5-14*****************************

5 So also Christ did not
glorify Himself to become
High Priest, but it was He
who said to Him:

"You are My Son, today I
have begotten You."

6 As He also says in
another place: "You are a
priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek";

7 who, in the days of
His flesh, when He
had offered up prayers
and supplications, with
vehement cries and tears
to Him who was able to
save Him from death, and
was heard because of His
godly fear, 8 thought He
was a Son, yet He learned
obedience by the things
which He suffered. 9 And
having been perfected,
He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who
obey Him, 10 called by God
as High Priest "according to
the order of Melchizedek,"

11 of whom we have much
to say, and hard to explain
since you have become dull
of hearing.

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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's passage encourages readers toward maturity in Christ.
Far from urging detailed knowledge of difficult bible passages or
in-depth understanding of doctrine, the writer says that "full age" is
characterized by something straightforward and practical. It is being
able "to discern both good and evil" (v.14).