eAs newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (I Peter 2:2) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5:15).
As a father of an eighteen month old daughter, I am constantly amazed as her individuality begins to make itself visible. She has her own favorite color, favorite toys, and favorite blankets. She also has her own preferences when it comes to what she eats that can really be a challenge at times. This morning, she let me know that she wanted a “dog dog” – what she calls a hot dog wiener that has been cut into quarters and grilled on a cast iron skillet. Once the wiener was grilled and served, she pushed her plate away and drank her entire glass of milk – and with the final gulp, was finished with breakfast without even eating a bite of the hot dog!
Almost immediately the passage from Hebrews came to mind; I admit, I was frustrated with her at first knowing that she needs to eat food for her nutritional needs and not fill herself up on milk. She needs proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to grow big and strong, yet this morning all she wanted was milk. As I began cleaning up the breakfast dishes I realized that the Lord had given me the perfect picture of the life of many Christians through this morning’s breakfast with my daughter!
In our churches there are countless number of Christians that come Sunday morning and beyond that, there is no effort made by them to work out [their] own salvation (Philippians 2:12). Not that our salvation requires work, for it is a free gift that is offered to us by God (Ephesians 2:8). Our faith in God, just like my daughter, must be exercised and fed so that she (and our faith) may grow. In other words, there is more to our Christian faith than just being pew sitters on Sunday morning. It takes the feeding of our faith through studying the Bible, through service to others, and a dedicated prayer life to nourish our souls. Without these things we will remain all that we were the day we came to accept Jesus Christ as our savior – a babe in Christ!
It is perfectly acceptable for a new believer in Christ to be spiritually content with considering attending church services, Sunday school, or even Bible studies as the extent of the Christian service. However, as they begin to learn through the teachings about the things of God the Holy Spirit begins to work within them to shape and try their faith (Luke 12:48; II Peter 2:26). Many Christians become uncomfortable and may even begin to fall away from the local church, instead seeking other congregations where they believe their anonymity is protected
They want to remain “Christian toddlers,” content that they are saved but no real desire for their faith in God to grow. I wonder if the parable of the three men and the talents can be applied here – no, these Christians will not lose their salvation but will have no crowns and no heavenly rewards to cast at Christ’s feet. They took the most miraculous gift that God has given man – salvation – and have done little to increase their faith or to reach others with the compassion that Christ has demonstrated to them.
Yet there are others that have a sincere desire to exercise their faith. They recognize that as they begin to learn about God, to read the Bible, and to seek him in prayer they have an increased desire – a hunger – to learn more, to do more, and to reach more for Jesus. It is not that they are any better than the other Christians, it is just they have understood the leading of the Holy Spirit and seek to live a life more pleasing to God. They recognize the calling of the Holy Spirit and will answer Here am I…speak, for your servant listeneth (I Samuel 3:6-10).
This calling does not necessarily mean you will have to become a missionary in the darkest jungles of Asia or the pastor of a congregation in rural America. God calls people who have an active faith and that strive to increase and strengthen their faith. It may be that God has laid on your heart a desire to help the elderly, the disabled, or those in jail come to know the salvation and love that only God can provide. Others may be led to serve in a supportive role for their local church, such as a nursery worker, Sunday school teacher, or church librarian. Be sure that whatever God has laid on your heart or called you to do that it will be something that will use the abilities and gifts you have while furthering his kingdom. God has not saved us to become a group of pew sitters, but to be active participants in our faith.
