Hebrews 5.13 “For every one that uses milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”
A babe is not a cut, a put down, or bad thing. They are just not accustomed or skilled in the word of righteousness. A Word of righteousness is word of doing things right. It is applying the Word of God into our life. Spiritual age has nothing to do with natural age.
Let me give you an example. You can’t teach an infant to take out the garbage. You can’t give an infant responsibility. You can tell them you love them, hold them, feed them, clothe them, sing nursery rhymes. As a babe in Christ, they need milk (doctrine) to grow. They should hear about the new heaven and new earth. That they are made righteous in Christ. Jesus took their sin and made them a new creature. God forgave them of sin and holds no sin against them. He loves them always with a love that never fails and never fades. They are the apple of His eye. It is the basic principles of the gospel message explained, none of which can be acted on but only received as milk for the growth of the baby. Unless the basic principles (milk) are taken hold of, the deeper truths of the Word Of God can not be comprehended.
Hebrews 5.14 “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
Our senses are trained by exercise and practice, and it can be likened to the training of an athlete’s skills by the discipline of practice. The Hebrew believers had not received spiritual insight because they had not been wrestling with spiritual truths, therefore they were not able to separate good from evil.
Practicing boxing does not make a champion. Practice along with smaller engagement fights where there are wins and losses is where people learn and grow into champions, just as one would grow in basic doctrines and understanding of the Word of God in receiving truth.
When we start to hear word of righteousness it demands action and obedience to do as we learned. We are now getting into the boxing ring! It’s in the ring where our opponent is, and it is our flesh, our unrestored soul, uncontrolled emotions, and a will that is not strong in obeying God and doing things His way. This is where the training beings! Start practicing the Word of Righteousness!
We can start with smaller engagement fights by hearing the Word about not holding a grudge or not having to get our own way, to not be covetous, envious, or judgmental, but rather to speak a kind word, or that a spouse is joint heir and treat them as such. We deal with these things in our thinking by pondering it, meditating on it, and putting it to action.
Then we move on to larger battles – Preferring others over ourselves, standing on God’s Word for healing regardless of what see or feel, following the Holy Spirit in sowing seed beyond our comprehension, standing for our needs to be met without going to an outside source, only following the leading of the Holy Spirit to reach the goals before us. We deal with all engagements the same; ponder, meditate, and act.
Our mind has to be renewed to the Word of God and our emotions and flesh need to be under control in order to walk in that Word. As we continue in the Word, our will by the Holy Spirit will become stronger to do as the Word declares. In order to stand our ground and fight, we have to live lives that leave no open door to the enemy. The more our lives line up with the Word of God, the more doors in our lives are shut to the enemy.
These battles whether small or large require action, obedience, a will to not quit, and strength to stand to the finish. This is the practice that trains our senses to discern spiritual things!
Our senses are not biological senses, but rather a spiritual sensitivity trained to discern. Who is wise in the wisdom of Christ? One trained by constant practice. This is the greatest safe guard we have. The more we discern, the more we only allow only the right things to come in to us to develop us. When this takes place, the more right things go out from us to create in our life.
Discerning good, wholesome doctrine versus evil, corrupt doctrine affects our entire life. This is how we become mature and this is how we stay mature, “The ability to discern is a critical measure of spiritual maturity. Babies will put anything in their mouth. Spiritual babes are weak in discernment, and will accept any kind of spiritual food.” (David Guzik) The mature learn by practice to discriminate what goes across their soul in either direction to affect their life.
