Milk Bottles, Blankies, and Solid Food

May 29

Read: Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Milk Bottles, Blankies, and Solid Food

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (v.5:14)

It actually takes “constant practice” to effectively discern “good from evil”. It would seem like it is an easy task, but the scriptures say otherwise. We need our “powers of discernment trained by constant practice distinguishing good from evil.” What a funny picture: practicing discerning good from evil. I know how to practice a sport or music… but practicing discernment? What am I going to do; have my wife show me flashcards!? “Quick - good or evil?” I know this is a silly example, but I do believe that we don’t practice this type of discernment enough. This verse (Heb. 5:14) ought to inform us that there is a solid bit of evil that masquerades as “good”… and many are tricked by it. They (those who are tricked) end up thinking something is a “good thing” or a “loving thing” when in the end it is evil to the core. Likewise, there are many good things that have been sidelined and called evil. There is a lot of talk these days about “love” and what it means to “love others”… but is it possible that maybe we are calling some action or idea “good” that is not? Are we calling something “loving” when it is not actually loving at all?

This is the deception of the enemy: trading the light for darkness and evil for good. The devil wants what is evil to be seen as good, and what is good to be seen as evil. Satan wants to call the light “darkness” and call the darkness”light”. This is why he travels clothed as an “angel of light”. (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14) So we need “constant practice”! This is why the word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God are so crucial in the lives of believers. (See last devo.) This is the “solid food” that the Lord gives the “mature” to grow us up in strength and knowledge of HIM. We need to be feasting on this solid food as mature believers. If we are not “well fed” we will be easily deceived … duped… used by the enemy! What is the alternative?

“it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing…You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.”(v.5:11-13) The alternative to this “solid food” diet and “practice of discernment” is “dull hearing” and being “unskilled in the word of righteousness”. Dull and unskilled. Oof. Jesus is working within us to sharpen our hearing and to teach how to skillfully handle the word of righteousness. We desperately need to have ears that hear HIS VOICE clearly over the noise of this world and the enemy. We need the Spirit to “lead us into truth” and “remind us of what Jesus has said and done” each and every day. (cf. John 16) We need to be skillful in or handling of the word.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes today to what things you may be seeing as “good” that are actually evil; and to show you what you maybe think is “evil” but is actually good. Set aside your “bottle” and grab a fork! Dig in to the “solid food” of a mature believer… Jesus is working in you to call you out of the days of milk bottles, “blankies”, and pacifiers! No more “dull ears”. No more “unskilled” handling of the word. Christ in us is bringing us into maturity. He is strengthening us.Trust me… there is plenty around you today that you can practice your discernment on! Do not fall for the enemies tricks or traps. Hold fast! Love you guys.- JDP