...cruising Hebrews 5:11 to 6:20
"Arrested Spiritual Development" or The Race to Maturity as this passage can be called (or perhaps we could call it "It's now June...whatever became of my 2015 New Year's Resolution?")
Andrea and I hadn't meant to be too-long-gone-away from the mini-van. We thought we'd leave all four kids alone for just a brief time while we dashed away to look at a potential home. The sight was horrific when we returned a few minutes later. RJ had taken Josh's bottle and began to squirt milk all over the minivan....ceiling, walls, windows and his siblings too. He didn't miss...he got it all! Just another day in a parent's life....but what a mess!
As I watch my kids grow up in front of my eyes, what an absolute thrill it is to watch the growth process. At one point they weren't able to eat anything but strained vegetables, and of course ...suck the milk bottle. I'll save you all the messy details in between (I'm still trying to forget), but somehow believe it or not, they later they progressed to tiny pieces of meat.
As I watch my kids grow up in front of my eyes, what an absolute thrill it is to watch the growth process. At one point they weren't able to eat anything but strained vegetables, and of course ...suck the milk bottle. I'll save you all the messy details in between (I'm still trying to forget), but somehow believe it or not, they later they progressed to tiny pieces of meat.
Around perhaps age 8, they began to
ask questions of what they were eating, ... was it chicken, pork or
beef. Questions like, "...what is pork?", "...Is fish
meat?" ... were often entertained around the supper table. Learning dictated
that their food be considered and categorized as they sorted out their taste buds.
I remember grilling BBQ chicken with chipotle sauce and
my youngest son Jeffrey loudly declaring, "Dad this is the best meat I've
ever eaten - it's my absolute favourite!" Then the same with burgers. ...and then a few years later announced he'd again changed his favourite. "Dad, I think I like steak-meat the best of
all!".
This is normal progressive
development, from "only-strained-vegetables" to
"steak". Wouldn't it be
incredibly odd, if my teenagers hit a plateau somewhere along the way and
couldn't get past strained vegetables ??
One of the most common things that afflict the
church is ....arrested spiritual development. Watch
out for that in YOUR life! After
coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, a person plateaus. When
you talk to someone who has reached a plateau....they talk about the same
spiritual things they talked about 25 years ago. This
is "arrested spiritual development" ....that
person is no farther along in maturity than they were 25 years ago ??? They
are still drinking their bottles of milk, looking for entertainment in their
church. They can't take the strong meat!
- God's plan for us is to progress to maturity!
- P.S. ~ Once you've developed a taste for stronger, tastier meat, you'll NEVER touch the bottle again!
·
V1 - "Let's grow up; let's go on to maturity"
~Hebrews 6
·
"build on the foundation of faith"
·
V14 -The mature
Christian is like a person who can eat solid food. This means that he can
understand the things of the spirit. He
studies the word of God and prays. He
learns how to see in each situation what is good and what is bad and what God
wants him to do. As he does this, he grows strong in his belief. This is not
just the use of the mind. It is the use of both the mind and the spirit. Then
he does what is right and not what is evil. In this way he learns to grow in
the Christian life. You need to plan your maturity...maturity is a choice!
- OK, Let's cut to the chase! ...What is YOUR plan to prevent "ASD" - Arrested Spiritual Development?
- The only plan God has for you to GROW and "spiritually develop" (whether you choose to accept this mission or not) is to
- We'd love to have you join us at our ANVIL Bible study!! Click this link to see our study in Hebrews!
- Hebrews: Jesus is ...our High Priest!
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