*[[Heb 5:12-14/KJV]]*
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
*[[Heb 6:1-3/KJV]]*
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
When a child is first born they have a natural reflex to suck milk. Their mouth and intestines are not yet ready for more solid food; also their bodies need the high concentrations of nutrients found in milk.
Most modern doctors say to wait until around six months old before introducing a more substantial food into their diet. Some things to look for as signs that your baby is ready are; they stare at your food when you eat and mimic opening their mouths, they reach out for your food, they don’t push food out with their tongue when it is put in their mouth with a spoon.
Now I am not a pediatrician and am in no way giving medical advice, and while giving a disclaimer let me add; when I say more substantial I am speaking of baby cereal not animal meat.
The reason I have brought these things forward is to look at the comparison given by the author of Hebrews with our spiritual maturity. The things listed as being the milk of God’s word are called by the author the principles of the doctrine of Christ.
This word principle is not speaking of a level of morality or honesty as we commonly use the word in our time, but instead it indicates a basic ingredient. So while we as Christians have different gifts and callings; there are basic teachings that all of us must have understanding of if we are to ever grow and mature in Christ.
As an example there is many different flavors of cake; each having slightly different ingredients. However all cakes
have basic ingredients that make them cake: eggs, milk, flour, and oil/butter. In a similar way Christians must have the basic ingredients of Hebrews 6:1-2 understood if they wish to grow.
If you read that last paragraph and glanced back up at the scriptures you should realize that our modern church is perhaps not living at a high level of maturity. This is not surprising as Paul told the church long ago they had many instructors but few fathers, and again if we look to John’s description of young men and fathers we will have to be honest and say that we need to grow up as a whole in the body.
The church looks for the power of God and the glory of God to be manifested, but this power and glory is not in the signs and wonders we run after. The scripture is plain enough that signs and wonders are for the unbeliever and as such they are not evidence of Gods power in our life but of our need. Consider the children of Israel in the wilderness. They were in the wilderness and witnessing mighty signs not because they had faith but to the end that they could learn to have faith. Jesus spoke two warnings on this subject that we would do well to heed; it is an evil and wicked generation that seeks a sign in order to believe Gods word and not to rejoice that sickness and demons must obey you but instead rejoice that God has joined Himself to you and He is sovereign in your heart and life.
The true power and glory of God is the living as one with God to the place that He emanates from your earthen vessel. This place of being as your Father in heaven is, of being His child in nature not just a place of nurture, that as with our Lord when someone looks at you they see your Father. The place where our the life given to us from Jesus becomes life more abundant or as Paul says from faith to faith is His righteousness revealed in us is only possessed by those who have matured to a place where they can eat the meat of Gods table.
I would like to, God willing, look at each of these ingredients one at a time; though they all work together to describe the life of God in us. With Gods help we will see not only a clearer view of the pure milk of God’s nurture for those who young in the faith, but also to establish and encourage us who should be mature to take of the meat that Jesus ate and do the will of the Father.
The church has many children who play cops and robbers claiming authority of which they still do not yet truly understand. Some must mature to young men who will wield that authority in truth, and others still must mature to Father who can encourage and instruct to the order of that authority.
I do not wish to rush something so foundational so I will separate these posts…
