Introductory Thoughts
The Bible likens a mature Christian to one who exercises. Exercise involves work for it to be most profitable. Many people start exercising with exuberance and zeal, yet quit when the workout begins to get difficult. This too unfortunately applies to those who start out wanting to live a godly life. Too many Christians quit simply because spiritual growth takes a lot of hard work and effort. Today’s passage contrasts the difference between a babe in Christ and a believer enjoying the meat of God’s word. The babe enjoys the milk of God’s word (the basic truths) but the milk limits the extent of his growth; whereas, the mature Christian wants to grow stronger through learning the truths that babes cannot yet handle. The strong Christian exercises his senses enabling him to discern between good and evil. He works hard. He does not quit though times get tough. He keeps reading his Bible. He keeps praying. He keeps obeying the Lord. When he stumbles, he simply picks himself back up, brushes himself off, and keeps moving forward, onward, and upward. So get up and go!
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Younger children watch the older ones ride their bikes and effortlessly tie their shoes. How did they learn to ride so well or tie so fast? They kept practicing. Each of them wanted to grow and learn and not remain a baby. God does not want us to remain babies in our Christian lives. We grow by practicing His ways.
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(For everyone): What do you expect of the Christian life? Do you expect it to be easy and almost effortless? Do you think the Lord should make choosing the right and never the wrong a mindless process? When the Lord forces you to exercise your senses, do you think He has your best interests in mind?
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What are you doing to exercise your senses to know the difference between good and bad, right and wrong? Are you becoming more consistent in these matters? If exercising inconsistently never achieves the athletes goals, what makes you think that inconsistency will work in your Christian life?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to make you more consistent in your walk with Him
- Ask God to enable you to endure the difficulties of serving Him.
Song
DWELLING IN BEULAH LAND
