Consider the situation.
You are sitting in church. Your mind has been wandering, but suddenly your pastor says these words and they catch your attention.
“…especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.”
“What?” You jerk up. “What did he call me? ‘Spiritually dull’?! I listen!”
And he continues, explaining that, while you’ve been saved long enough that you should be teaching others, the teachers keep having to come back and instruct you in the same basic principles over and over.
His previous words still ring in your ears: “Especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.”
You’re perturbed, but as you glance around the room, wondering if anyone else thinks he’s preaching to them personally, he continues. “You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.”
“Now wait a minute! That’s going too far! I am no baby!” The thought surges forward even as, deep inside, you start to wonder. “Am I?” You listen intently, growing increasingly uncomfortable even as a new hunger starts to build inside you.
“For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.”
You want to shout, “I don’t know how to do what is right? I’m here aren’t I?!” but you sit silently, not so sure the words are true…not really.
“Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
You hear what he says. You are truly listening now, and your attention is caught by two words: Training and Skill. “What training?” you wonder. “What skill?”
My question is, “What next?”
If a random pastor were to stand up and preach this sermon to his congregation today, what would happen?
If your pastor were to preach this sermon to your congregation, what would you do?
What would be the result?
Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C
