Don’t Be a Milk Man
The author of Hebrews focuses on ministering to Jewish Christians, persuading them that Jesus was and is the only true Messiah; the fulfillment of the prophecies. As the writer pens evidence from the old testament, tagging thoughts and providing air-tight arguments along the way, he shifts in chapters five and six to a warning even the gentile must take to heart.
In Hebrews 5:11, the author declares a desire to teach about spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ, but tells them they “…have become dull of hearing.”
In verses 12-14 the point is hammered home in a way that many readers today would find offensive. The spiritually mature can distinguish good from evil, but those who struggle to grasp even the basic principles of God will not be able to rightly divide good from evil. Inability to determine what is good and what is evil is a terrifying consequence of not seeking the deeper things of God (a stale relationship or spiritual immaturity)
Let’s read Hebrews 5:12-14.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Ouch.
“…you ought to be teachers…you need someone to teach you again the basic principles…You need milk, not solid food…everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child…”
I wonder how much tension filled the air as this letter was read aloud.
Spiritual milk isn’t bad, but when do we move to something spiritually dense and hearty?
Before Hebrews was even written, Paul addressed the Corinthian Church with a similar sentiment.
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready…” -1Corinthians 1:1-2
As much as the truth can hurt, it also sets us free. In fact, Jesus once said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:31-32
After all, it’s the alarm that wakes us from our slumber, not the soothing sound of a lullaby. We all need a metaphorical wake up call now, and again.
Unfortunately, this problem of not being able to differentiate the truth from lies due to spiritual immaturity persists to this day. Being able to properly identify the differences is a gift that God gives all who grow close to Him. That gift is called,
Discernment.
It seems as though the enemy doesn’t want God’s people to be able to identify good and evil, right from wrong, Godliness from wickedness. Hmm, imagine that. At least we all agree that babies shouldn’t be killed in their mother’s wombs, and we all know there are only two genders.
Do you see how discernment has been lost?
The more blurred the lines, the easier they are to melt into one another, convoluting and perverting the truth — exactly how hell likes it. If I cannot discern the threat of evil, I am powerless to resist it or flee from it as the word commands me to. (2 Timothy 2:22, James 4:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Psalm 34:13-14)
BUT…there is good news.
If we abide in God’s word, allowing His sculpting, molding, pruning, and conviction to transform our lives, He will produce in us a maturity that helps us discern the things of the spiritual world. That is why milk can’t last us forever. We need discernment and discernment comes with deeper understanding of God. Discernment can be gained through a few avenues, with the source always being God as its origin.
God’s Word - Discernment is a form of heavenly wisdom, or deep understanding. The bible is invaluable in knowing God’s character and that holy text says that wisdom true wisdom comes from above. Therefore, discernment can be gained by growing your knowledge of His word.
Private Prayer - Seeking God in your personal prayer time routinely places you in a receptive heart posture to receive from God. That kind of intimacy with Jesus, coupled with acknowledging Him as the answer to your needs, is a prime way to grow in discernment and knowledge of God.
Wise Counsel - Although this is an indirect way of gaining discernment, there’s something to be said about those that have gone before you, spiritually speaking. If God has brought wise revelation to someone else, it’s not a bad idea to learn their story. Listen to their experiences in using God-given discernment during tough moments and hard times. You might just learn a thing or two about God by knowing someone who knows Him well.
Submit Your Will - Discernment isn’t wisdom sourced from within you, it’s wisdom sourced from outside you, poured into you. Our will is not wise, but God’s wisdom is. Our “discernment” goes about as far as knowing we shouldn’t run onto a busy interstate during holiday travel. However, when we submit to God’s timing, voice, and plans (Jeremiah 29:11), we are practicing in real-time, the gift of discernment as He sovereignly gives it.
The audience of Hebrews needed the hard truth to wake them up. They had known the Lord, loved Him, believed in Him, and had even suffered persecution for His name (Hebrews 10:32-34), but they had begun to fade in their relationship with Jesus. If you want discernment, don’t ignore the avenues God has given you:
His Word, His Presence, His People, and His Will.
In closing, don’t drink milk when you could eat the solid food God wants to offer. You’re meant to eat the meat of the word, not just drink the milk.
Don’t be a milk man.
Train through constant practice the things God has given you to become a mature believer in Him.
Remember, "…solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice…”
Constant practice.