Hebrews__5

Scripture 

Hebrews 5:14 

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Observation-What does it say? 

The author of Hebrews is showing a bit of frustration with the members of the Hebrew church.  By many accounts, these are not new converts, and yet they are turning away from their faith.  Through the next chapter, the author both gives warning of the perils of falling away and gives encouragement to press on.  

Understanding-What does it mean?

I hate to make mistakes, especially when I am in the middle of having a self righteous attitude.  Like when I offer up an answer at a training, and I have the most experience in the room, including the person in charge of the training, but the answer I give is incorrect because I have failed to remember one of the more elementary principles of my job.  Outside of the embarrassment of being wrong, I have to eat crow a little because of losing my humility somewhere before getting to the class.  But, that seems to be when I make the most elementary mistakes.  And as the saying goes, pride comes before the fall.

Humbling ourselves after a mistake is not fun.  Many times, I have watched my kids, after I catch them doing something wrong, act as if all life has fallen out of their bodies.  They lie down on the floor, in great agony, refusing to clean up the mess they have created, or refusing to apologize for taking a swing at their brother.  The longer they refuse to fix the problem they created, the longer it takes to move on to what may have been next, like dessert (which they often lose because of these situations).  But as a father, I know how important for their personal development it is that they fix the problem.

Many times in the Bible we are reminded that our life with Jesus is not a “one and done” situation.  We don’t ask Jesus to be our savior, and then everything is perfect.  Our spiritual lives require discipline, much like an athlete trying to get to the olympics.  To the Corinthians, Paul writes as if he is giving a half time pep-talk to a losing team, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)  Later on in Hebrews, we are told to lay down the sin that keeps us from moving forward (12:1).

Moving forward, and growing in our faith, takes a conscious effort to shut off the things of this world that don’t matter, and reach out for the things that are the building blocks.

Life Application  

Jesus, help me to remain humble today and everyday after.  Help me to gain perspective on what truly matters.  I don’t want to let my pride stand between knowing you more.  I also don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to serve another because I have a desire for a material thing, like a new car.  Help me to have the discipline to get up everyday and seek you first.  

-Tyler Galloway