Hebrews 5:11-14 “…you are slow to learn… You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Many disenchanted people leave the Church with the parting shot: “I’m not being fed.” Hopefully, most preachers at least aspire to nourishing their flock with a well-balanced nutritious diet of sermons. I certainly want to move people on from milk to solid food. But listen! My three children learnt to feed themselves when they were toddlers. You can’t blame others if you’re not being fed – it’s your responsibility, because you – unlike suckling infants – are response-able. So do not abdicate your own responsibility by delegating the task of Bible study to your pastor. Back in the Middle Ages, before the Reformation, you would have an excuse, but the Bible’s long since been unchained from the pulpit.
As Mark Batterson writes: “If you are relying on a preacher to be fed, I fear for you. Listening to a sermon is second-hand knowledge. It is learning based on someone else’s words or experiences. A sermon is no replacement for first-hand knowledge. You’ve got to see it and hear it and experience it for yourself. It’s not enough to hear the truth. You have to own it. Or more accurately, it has to own you. Honestly, I’d rather have people hear one word from the Lord than a thousand of my sermons. And that happens when you open your Bible and start reading.”
I hope and pray these daily readings are helpful in your on-going journey. But the Holy Spirit wants to take us much deeper through His Word. C.S.Lewis wrote this dialogue between Aslan and Lucy once re-united:
“Welcome child”
“Aslan, you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one.”
“Oh, not because you are?”
“Oh, I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
Lord, I resolve to go deeper and find you bigger today. Amen!
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