"Grow Up"

What goes through your mind when you see a toddler drinking from a bottle? Grow up already!!! There comes a time when drinking from a bottle is just no longer appropriate. I Peter 2:2 "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." As infants we need milk. We are at the mercy of someone else to feed us and make sure we are being nourished. However, just as in real life there comes a time that we learn to feed ourselves, first by pinching bits and pieces, next by shoveling in the food with a fork and then learning how to prepare the food and feed others as well, so too we should follow this progression in our spiritual life. How unfortunate and unnatural would it be to drink from a spiritual bottle for the rest of your life depending on others to feed you. We must "Grow Up" in our faith and learn to feed ourselves from the meat of His word. Maybe it is because I am a pastor's wife, but I have always taken great issue with the statement "They just aren't being fed." Any obedient pastor will proclaim the truth from God's word when he is given the opportunity to speak. If he is not preaching scripture, then you need to find a new place to worship. As the scripture is opened, there is food. You have to make the choice to partake of the fare that is set before you. You must eat!! But it is not enough just to partake of only one meal a week. Imagine how weak and frail you would become if you only ate once a week. No, you have to nourish your body each and everyday and the same is true for your soul. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we must learn how to open God's word and feed on it for nourishment. It is so discouraging to see those who have been walking with the Lord for a long time yet still dependent on someone else to fill their bottle and assist them in their feeding. I just want to scream..."Grow up." But how does one grow up? By trying!! I remember when I wanted my children to begin to feed themselves, I would break up small pieces of food and lay it on the tray in front of them. It was with much effort that those tiny pinchers began to work and grasp for those nuggets of nourishment. Once in their hand, it took a little while to make it to their mouth, but the more they practiced the easier it became. There were times that they would become lazy or tired and want me to do it for them, but as their mother who cared about their development, I could not allow them to become lazy. I encouraged and I stayed the course in seeing that they learned to feed themselves. Now, 6, 9 and 11 years later I have children who not only can feed themselves, but that can also prepare food and feed others. Yes, I am talking about physical food, but it is also true with spiritual food. I have watched my children growing up in Him and being able to take scripture and encourage, rebuke and teach others through the truth of His word. They are growing up!! We as believers should continue to grow up in Him. 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be glory both now and forever. Amen." He wants us to grow! He has designed our physical and our spiritual beings to grow up in Him. May we always be found feasting on His Word so that we may become healthy and strong for the sake of His kingdom and His glory!