Grow Up

By Paul Chappell

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Hebrews 5:12-14

Every person who is a born-again believer starts life as a baby in Christ. Whether the new convert is six or sixty, that person is still a new Christian. Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked him, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies."

It’s a good thing to be a baby, but it’s not a good thing to remain a baby. This is just as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical realm. A baby Christian who has been saved for forty years is a tragedy. God intends for us to grow and mature so that we can be a positive influence in the lives of others. Until we learn to dig into the meat of the Word for ourselves, we will never grow.

I have the privilege of pastoring a local, New Testament church. I take the Word of God to the pulpit and preach His Word. Attending a good Bible-preaching church is vital to your spiritual growth, but it is not enough. In addition to hearing the teaching and preaching of the Word, you need be a student of Scripture yourself.

Today's Rooted Principle:

Go beyond the milk of the Word today; be a serious and thoughtful student of Scriptures so that you can grow and mature as a Christian.