September 11–Milk to Meat

Happy Wednesday to you! Last week when I was with my youngest grandson who is 11-months old, I laughed at how much he is an eating machine. Put a piece of just about anything in front of him and he will try his best to eat it. He moved from milk to solid food pretty quickly somewhere around 6-7 months and loves just about everything from chicken to avocados to blueberries. 


Why does Paul tell the Corinthians that he can’t “feed” them solid food, even when it “tastes” much better and has so much more to offer them (and us)? How often do you think we are hungry for the meat of the Word or are we simply content with just a little taste of milk and never really dig deeper? Are we truly living by the Spirit? 


“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭NIV


Evidently, their issue was they were still fighting over who they were going to follow and Paul let’s them know in no short order that we all follow Christ. 


“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow...For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:5-7, 11‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Sometimes when I hear Christians debating doctrine or which church is better or some other silly point, I think “Are we all still such babies that can’t even grab a Cheerio off the high chair tray yet? We will never be able to cut a steak!” 


“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Our identity or who we are should begin with whose we are. Yet, so many times, we attach ourself to an “Apollos” or others’ opinions and less from from prayerful consideration of what Scripture says is true of us. Our hopes and fears often fluctuate with newscasts rather than gaining the assurance from God’s promises. We try to live up to the lifestyles of neighbors and TV characters more than the godly responses of people in Bible narratives. Do we ask opinions of friends first and God last? How often do we find ourselves trying to make sense of life more from novels and movies than we do from God’s true story of creation, rebellion, redemption, and restoration? 


“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:19‬a ‭NIV‬‬


Lord God who give all wisdom, help us to discern your ways especially when they conflict with the ways of the world. You are a good God and we worship you Father. What a wonderful Father you are to us and help us to recognize how fearfully and wonderfully we have been created by you. You breathed you breath into our very being: we want to recognize that same, sweet Spirit within us and to let the world around us see you shine through. Thank you Lord for saving us, for your grace that covers us and for your love that sustains us. We praise and worship you today. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam


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