Maturing is Lifelong Process That Never Stops

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:6


Title in NIV: Maturity in Christ is stressed.

This is one of my favorite topics in the bible. Maybe because I need it so much! Maybe because I strive to be more mature. Maybe, to be honest, because I see people who are not mature and it drives me a little crazy. I think of what Paul said in Philippians 3:12, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it...but I press on toward the goal." This is the maturity I want to strive for all my life. If I ever feel like I have attained it, I am kidding myself and my maturing process stops.

There are so many good points to make in these verses. First, the writer says the people are slow to learn. Sound familiar? How many of us have had to go through a challenge over and over because we refuse to learn what God has for us. Good to know He will not give up on us and will try over and over with our hearts.

Second, the writer tells the people they should be teachers by now. Should you be a teacher by now? Who do you teach? Who do you reach out to? Are you to the point with God to be a teacher? This does not mean you have to stand in front of a group, but you should be mature and confident enough to share your faith or maybe just be confident enough to say a pray.

But, he tells the people that they do not know enough about the righteousness of God (solid food) and that they need the elementary teaching over again (milk of the word). He does not like the fact that they need to be taught the milk again when they should be on to the solid food.

The milk of the word is the elementary teaching and they include: repentance, faith in God, instructions about baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of dead, eternal judgment. To me that is the knowledge of the Word. I believe the solid food is the action of the Word. Action of the Word is also the obedience of the Word. How can you be obedient with knowledge. Obedience comes from doing what you know (James 1:22).  The writer says that by constant use we can train ourselves to distinguish between good and evil. Constant use is the key to being mature.

Examine your maturity level and decide to listen to God’s whispers to you. It might be to take that bag of clothes to your friend’s kids that has been sitting in the dinning room for two months. It might be to pick up that trash in the ditch that has been there for a month. It might be to buy that little gift for a friend and mail it to them. Whatever God whispers, step out with God and train yourself to become more mature in your actions everyday.

Verse 4-6 says, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared the Holy Spirit…if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance…” This has always been hard for me to accept. I’ll hear, “Well that person was really not enlightened or given the Holy Spirit and that is why they turned away.” I know people who fit that description. I pray for them to return to God like they once were. I think of 2 Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are his.” I believe there are people on earth who are not a part of the body of Christ (even church members), who are not in the kingdom of God. I believe they will not be given the Holy Spirit because their heart is corrupt and even if they look like they are doing the right thing on the outside, they reject Him in their heart. Matthew 23 describes this behavior. Jesus says, “Woe! To the teachers of the law who look like beautiful on the outside but on the inside are like dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” I’m sure I do not understand this verse. I would love to know how you understand this verse.

So, help me out and give me your perspective. I would love to hear another view of verse 4-6. Blessings