When we’ve submitted our hearts to Christ, it seems at first like a final step, but we soon
find we are confronted with an astonishing array of new biblical information. Peter here speaks of this time metaphorically, comparing the recently born again to – new born babes…. Who need the pure milk of the word… Strong’s defines the Greek word translated as milk as a metaphor for the less difficult Christian truths. I recalled today when I read this verse how difficult it seemed when I was a new Christian to even identify those less difficult truths on my own.
I also can recall taking Peter’s metaphor as an insult, insinuating that I was a baby Christian. I asked, but the mature Christians around me seemed quite unsure how long my Christian infancy would last. Eventually I realized that I had been totally focused on the wrong thing. Babies have parents. My spiritual rebirth was from above (John 3, You must be born again) and that meant that I had a new Father. I had become a child of God. Even children have a sense of place. Children of the slums have less opportunity than the children of billionaires. Born again baby Christians are children of the Most High Creator of the Universe. The spiritual inheritance and opportunity of God’s babies is limitless.
Babies know instinctively that they need to cry out for their needs, (ask and it will be given to you… Matthew 7:7) and every need will be addressed by their parents. They learn quickly the reliability of those who care for them. Our heavenly Father is unfailingly reliable when we cry out to Him. Young Christians must make a habit of prayer.
Babies get hungry and must be fed. If a newborn cries and we respond by placing a bottle near them, we’ve done nothing. As Christians we often do this by simply handing a bible to a new believer. Providing the Word is good, but there are many spiritually starving people holding bibles. Feed young Christians the Word. If you are a young Christian, find someone who will feed you God’s Word. Everything a baby needs to grow and prosper is contained in breast milk. Everything a baby Christian needs to grow and prosper is contained in the Word. We often settle for spiritual supplements, authored by human hands when the precise formula necessary is available in the bible.
Finally, babies choke on meat. New born Christians who dive into Revelation or explore deep theologies usually choke and whither. We are all at different points along the path of Christian growth. Once we’ve ingested the less difficult Christian truths, we need to feed them to God’s hungry babies. Once they understand the more basic principles, we need to feed them the increasingly solid Bread of Life, and when they are ready, the solid meat of solid scripture. Spiritual growth relies on proper spiritual nutrition. It would be ridiculous to feed a baby steak, and equally ridiculous to feed an adult a baby bottle.
Does your small group sometimes feel like this?
Our faith walk is a process of continuous improvement, always moving toward a deeper relationship with Jesus. William Bryan wrote --
"Christian civilization is the greatest that the world has ever known because it rests on a conception of life that makes life one unending progress toward higher things, with no limit to advancement or development."
Don’t allow yourself to remain stuck in spiritual infancy or puberty. Find a spiritual mentor. Find a small group that challenges you. Take an online bible study course. If you are not attending a biblical church, find one. If you choose to remain in the spiritual nursery, don't expect to be fed meat.
Copywrite 2012 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be quoted or used without prior written consent if a link is provided to www.wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com
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