“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [mature], that is, those who by reason of use [practice] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV)
• As we need exercises to be physically fit, so do we need spiritual exercises to be spiritually fit (1 Timothy 4:8).
- We are to exercise our senses, our minds, that we may be skillful in discerning good and evil.
- Ability to discern accurately is a product of mind exercise. The mind needs exercise as well as the body– however bodily exercise profits a little compared to spiritual exercise (1 Timothy 4:8).
• If you feed your mind with solid food, spiritual food; which would edify it, transform it—it becomes sound. You will be matured in your thinking and reasoning; thus you will be able to discern both good and evil.
- The Word of God matures the mind. Mind maturity is the maturity of the person (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
- A mature person is someone who has a matured mind—mind that can discern both good and evil.
- A believer with a matured mind knows what God wants and what He does not want.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.”
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) - Maturity of mind happens through the practice of the Word of God–solid food.
• A mature believer is skilled in the word of righteousness.
- He knows what he ought to do and what he ought not to do.
- He knows what God frowns at, and what He delights in.
- By reason of use, by practicing the Word of God, He or she has God’s viewpoint, perspective, about issues of life.
• However, those who dodge solid food, solid Word of God, are unskilled in practicing the Word.
“for everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.”
Hebrews 5:13 (Amp.)
• A spiritual infant, a baby Christian, would not want to hear the deeper truth of the word of God (2 Timothy 4:3).
- Maturity comes through solid food of the Word, not milk of the Word.
- Deep things of God are revealed to those who have matured minds–the deep things are revealed by the Holy Spirit.
- “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- But God has REVEALED them to us THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.”
1 Corinthians 2:9,10 (NKJV)
• Those who love the truth, who want to follow the narrow way–God reveals deeper things to such (Matthew 7:13,14).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
- “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.
- “But small is the gate and NARROW AND DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL IS THE PATH THAT LEADS THE WAY TO [EVERLASTING] LIFE, and there are FEW WHO FIND IT.”
Matthew 7:13,14 (Amp.)
• Albeit, there are so-called believers who do not want the truth, solid food, sound doctrine, whom even if they know the truth, they are not ready to practice it.
- To such, Paul in his last epistle told Timothy to be emphatic in his preaching.
- “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.
- For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
- and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV)
• You can only grow, mature, through solid food of the Word–by enduring sound doctrine and accurate instructions that challenge you with God’s truth.
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!