"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" 1 Peter 2:2
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Newborn babies have no trouble getting what they need. As a mother, you learn to discern the difference between, "I need to be fed." and "I need a clean diaper." You learn the tone in their cry when something is hurting them and when they just need to be held and reassured. You're quick to provide whatever is needed for you newborn, however if your 5 year old is asking for what they need the same way they did when they were newborns - crying non-stop until they get what they want, you've got a problem.
At some point, we must teach our precious little ones to do for themselves. From holding their own bottle, to eat solid food as we spoon it into their mouths, to feeding themselves using utensils and eventually learning how to pour their own cereal with milk or make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Eventually, they are fully capable of preparing a meal for themselves. They are even capable of choosing between junk food and healthy, life-giving food.
As a new believer in Christ, we choose to accept Him as our personal Savior. We are hungry for more of Him, more of His word. We want to be around other believers, so we're there every time the church doors are open. We read Christian books, listen to Christian radio stations. We're ravenous for more of Him. We're quick to ask questions about spiritual and hunt for the answers. We lean heavily on those who are mature in their spiritual walk. Those who know how to "walk the walk" because we want to grow in Him.
That's okay when you are a "newborn" in Christ, but at some point, we need to wean ourselves from depending on others. We need to learn how to go to read the Bible for ourselves, instead of fully depending on the preacher to tell us what it says and how to apply it to our lives. Instead, we should be leaning on the Holy Spirit - praying before we dig into the Word that He will reveal more of Himself to us through the Word and that He will show us how to apply it - how to be "doers" of the Word and not just "hearers" only.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22
Not that we wouldn't need to still learn from those who are more mature in their faith than us, because we can learn much from their example, but we need to be able to stand on our own two spiritual feet, so that we can be a help and an example to those who are coming up behind us in their own new spiritual walk.
So, let's take a minute and examine ourselves.
- Do you spend some time daily reading your Bible and praying?
- Do you set spiritual leaders on such high pedestals that if they fell, you would be pulled down with them?
- Do you place too many demands for spiritual nourishment on those around you?
- Have you realized that we are to continually exercise habits that will cause us to grow in Christ?
- Do you reach out to those who are newer in the faith than you are to help them grow and mature in their faith?
- Would you say you are someone who has learned how to feed themselves spiritual food, or are you still dependent on others to hold your hand?
- How did you learn to walk on your own?
What are your thoughts on this subject?
Please leave a comment to let us know what you think.
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