Baby Food

I enjoy watching my grandchildren move from a milk only diet to crackers, and other solid foods. This is a significant sign of growth. I must confess that feeding babies pureed peas, carrots, other meats and vegetables is a bit gross. I remember actually gagging at some of the smells that come from baby food. It is cool now to see them, several months later eating regular table food – even meat that is diced up into “bite-sized” pieces. It’s a sign that they are indeed growing up. It is tough seeing a grown person who has to have their food pureed because of issues with their digestive tract. I must confess that I’m a meat-eater. I enjoy some meat in some form with nearly every meal.

The Hebrew writer give a food analogy with spiritual growth. He compares spiritual baby food with physical baby food. It’s an analogy that speaks to me because I enjoy eating food. Check this out….

¹¹ 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. ¹² 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. ¹³ For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT)

I have been walking daily in the Word of God for over 12 years now. I get really frustrated with myself when I think of years that I wasted on trivial things like games on my phone or work-related stuff. The noises of where I live, my job and career crowed out my time in the Word of God. Even in my days of being a full-time student pastor on staff at a church. I studied the Word more for a textbook rather than the Word of God that gives life to me.

I can’t begin to describe the profound changes that have taken place in my life since committing to spend time in the Word each morning. I’m not trying to be super legalistic – I just desire to know God more. His Word is a wealth of historic perspective as well as deep spiritual teaching. I am different today because of my time in the Word. I actually know people who have been Christians a lot longer than I have who are not reading and studying the Word of God each day and they are weak Christians. They are still on “baby food” of the Word. I am not a special person. I do not consider myself a spiritual giant. I am simply a man who wants to know God more. I want His heart to take over my heart. The more I know Him, the more I want to know Him. The journey in His Word has changed my life in way that is difficult to describe. It take self-discipline to block the time each day, but it is so worth it.

Pressing On!

Dwayne