When babies are born, they start their tiny lives utterly dependent on milk. Most won’t touch baby food for the first six months of their lives. But as they grow, their ability to eat solid food grows.
Before too long, they’re eating two double-doubles, a large fry, and a classic Coke to chase it down with.
Often, God uses the natural parts of our lives to point us to a spiritual truth. For instance, how awkward would it be if, at the age of 16 or 37, you sat down to drink a bottle in front of your friends when you should be eating steak? Very!
The same goes for our spiritual lives. We should move beyond the spiritual milk to a more solid spiritual diet. At some point, we should outgrow the milk stage of our spiritual walk.
The question is, how do we do that? Here are a few steps to help you outgrow the M.I.L.K. from the book of Hebrews.
Motivate your mind for ministry.
The writer of Hebrews puts it this way. “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 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.” (Hebrews 5:11-13)
This is where he tells us to get our heads in the game. You’re not even trying, he says. You’re complacent, and because you’re complacent, you’re not doing what you should be doing: growing in your faith and investing the Good News into the lives of others.
Intentionally grow.
He goes on to say, “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.” (Hebrews 5:14-6:1)
You have to want it if it’s going to happen. God calls us all to a deeper walk with him. That takes intentionality. What are you doing to intentionally grow in Christ?
Look at your fruit.
Take a moment and evaluate your life. What spiritual fruit is coming out of it? It matters way more than we think it does.
Using fruit to help us evaluate our spiritual growth, the writer says, “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” (Hebrews 6:7-8)
What comes out of our lives matters for eternity. It’s a solid gauge of our spiritual maturity.
Keep diligent to the very end.
God’s not done with you. He has a purpose for your life. It’s not over!
That’s why the writer of Hebrews encourages us when he says, “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:11-12)
It’s over when God says it’s over. Keep moving forward. Decide to move forward in God, growing and being enriched by him in every way. You’ll never regret it.
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