Our Daily Bread -- Oranges Or Milk?

[Bro. Bill]

Solid food belongs to those who are of full age. —Hebrews 5:14
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.

Spiritual growth occurs when faith is cultivated.
Be blessed

[Lowe]

Thanks!

[Kurdawg]

Wonderful post and very true. Thank you

[Mertzon Man]

Amen!

[Mtltx]

Thanks bro. Bill

[LWolken]

Solid food belongs to those who are of full age. —Hebrews 5:14
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.

Spiritual growth occurs when faith is cultivated.
Be blessed

I met an older man some time ago in our neighborhood who shares a common interest of mine that is a love for studying the scripture. When I went to visit him one day he was proud to show me some studies which he had authored on the writings of Paul. Each of which were several inches thick. I couldn't help but notice something missing from the shelves which contained these studies. I wondered why he had not authored a single study prior to Matthew? It reminded me of this very same subject that is milk before meat.

Hebrews 5:12 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.

Like any good instruction manual one cannot begin two thirds into the manual and expect to end up with a properly functioning item at the end. In this case the Word of God is no different.

Acts 7:38 This is he(Moses), that was in the church(assembly) in the wilderness with the angel(Jesus) which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

What was given at Sinai is what we must be taught again. These are the first principles the oracles or instructions that our fathers were to give to us.

One cannot instruct others how to build an item if they themselves have not followed the proper instructions. Whether that individual chooses not to read the instructions or chooses to modify them to suit his or her needs. This modifying is done by adding to or subtracting away from the original instructions either way that individual is not fit for teaching the original design to others. If one is to teach others in the way/instructions should not that one have been walking in the way/instructions himself? If a teacher is not walking according to The Designers proper instructions what does that tell us about the teacher?

John 7:17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God[Psa 40:8] will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.

The Torah is what was given on Sinai it is the first principles, the oracles that give us understanding of His Word. His "way" is building or walking according to His Torah or again simply instruction. This is the way Jesus walked. Jesus walked a sinless life and sin is trangression of the law or instructions aka Torah(1 John 3:4) Jesus is the way because the Law is also the way!(Psa 119:1) if we read the first two thirds of the manual we would know this. Jesus is the truth because the law is the truth.(Psa 119:142) They are one in the same! It is critical that we understand this since after all do we gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? We sure try to. Every good tree[teacher] produces good fruit[instruction] but every bad tree[teacher] produces bad fruit[instruction] one cannot get meat from a milk tree.

We all have the same gift of free will. A gift we choose to excercise. We can build according to The Designer's instructions and by doing so reproduce his pure design gaining His wisdom, understanding and truth or we can try to build according to our own instructions like our forefathers did not desiring to obey him, rather, they left him and in their hearts they returned to Egypt.

One end result/product will not be like the other. Milk then meat not the other way around. There is no wonder why we have 3000+ denominations today.

The instruction manual has been disgarded....

Have we really pondered and taken the time to understand the basics...

Exodus 12:49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you."

Leviticus 24:22 You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.' "

Numbers 15:29 This same law applies both to native Israelites and the foreigners living among you.

Numbers 15:15 Native Israelites and foreigners are the same before the LORD and are subject to the same laws. This is a permanent law for you.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus[The Torah/Law made flesh]

[spikebuck]

Amen.

[Widowmaker]

Thank you.

[shaun5371]

Amen, thanks Bro Bill.