A child drinks milk because that is all he is ready to receive. Soon parents introduce solids and the child grows stronger, starting to walk and talk. As he grows, he moves from a vulnerable state to a state of self-sufficiency and standing on his own two feet. His life is marked by milestones along the path to adulthood. 

The Christian journey from milk to meat is about spiritual growth and maturity, necessary to withstand adversity. This growth and maturity are marked by an increasing understanding of God’s Word. Hebrews 5:13-14 talks about anyone who lives on milk, still being an infant, is not acquainted with the teachings about righteousness and that solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

This growth pattern is very similar for most kids. Unfortunately, our spiritual growth is not always a similarly straight path; sometimes life pushes the pause button. New Christians are vulnerable and fed by milk, or basic Christian truths, from the pastors and other spiritual leaders in their paths. But as Christians mature, we need to be able to stand on our own two feet, to withstand temptations, to go through trials and to teach others about God. If your life has hit the pause button one or more times throughout your life, think about what spiritual age you must be. 

Moving from milk to meat requires a willingness to dig in, grow and not hit the pause button. In Hebrews 5:12, we read that the book’s audience should be teachers, but they needed someone to teach them the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. It is the modern-day equivalent of coming to church every week and expecting to be fed God’s Word, but doing nothing during the week to further our own spiritual growth. Because life gets in the way, we have to carve out time to read the Word and press on, even when it gets difficult. Because trials will come our way, we need to be equipped to stand strong during the storm; by getting God’s Word down deep inside of us and being able to use it against the devil. 

Listen to sermons that are of solid food. Don’t pull away (or hit the pause button) when you experience discomfort and God is dealing with something inside of you. 

Here is your invitation to grow together spiritually, as we keep our eyes on God and soak in the Word daily, that in the time of trials or temptation we can withstand the enemy. 

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