Milk & Sirloin Steak

Here is an article that my dad just wrote for his church newsletter, The Spur. It has been an encouragement to me, I hope it is for your as well.

L

MILK & SIRLOIN STEAK
by Ramesh Krishnan

I have fond memories (and videos) of feeding my children as they graduated from the nursing stage to real food; well, that is, if you can call applesauce and formless, mushy vegetables & fruit from little bottles, real food. It was entertaining to see them discover new tastes and textures. However, I was sure glad when they grew to desire and enjoy food that grownups ate and could feed themselves. You would wonder if our family had it all together, if you walked in and saw my wife spoon-feeding my twenty year old. I cannot imagine what my sons would look like today if they never got beyond applesauce – stunted and malnourished.

This process of growth and maturity is no different when Christians consider their new birth in Christ and spiritual maturity. There is no such thing as a mature Christian who has no interest in God’s Word; in fact a Christian disinterred in it is an aberration! The author of Hebrews admonishes against spiritual immaturity – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again, the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).

The Holy Spirit given to us at the time of salvation will produce in us the desire to know His Word and to apply it – this is His purpose. David’s desire for God’s Word is obvious – “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word”, “Oh! How I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:16,97). Getting to know God & His Word, trusting & obeying it is as natural for the born again believer as it is the desire of a newborn for milk.

But we cannot stay spiritual newborns. Paul, once again, in his instruction to Timothy says “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. It requires discipline, work and commitment to be able to understand and apply God’s word. These words and those in Hebrews above are not just for pastors, elders or ‘super Christians’; it is for every believer. This is the reason why Paul underscores the importance of elders/pastors being able to teach biblical principles in 1 Timothy 3 and those who ‘labor in the Word’ being worthy of double honor (1 Cor 5:17). He places much greater value in biblical answers (God’s wisdom) to issues than consensus or pragmatism.

It is my desire (and I am sure the other elders will agree) that we become a spiritually mature congregation, ready to handle sirloin steak. We want to SPUR you on in your growth and actually mean it when we sing “Thy Word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. In every church there is bound to be believers at every level, some newborns, some steak eaters and some in between. This is normal and fine as long as we don’t continue in a newborn diet for many years, when we should be eating solid food and feeding others.

As elders we want to provide the opportunities for everyone to grow in the grace & knowledge of Jesus Christ. The primary one being the Sunday Morning bible study at 9:45 am. We strongly encourage the members and those who call OVCC their church home to make an effort to participate. It may mean curtailing late night Saturday night activities. It does take discipline and effort to grow, just as in any athletic endeavor, which we take for granted. However, as we do this, God promises spiritual prosperity! – “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2-3)

We are currently in an 8-week video series by John Piper called ‘The Blazing Center’, in which he masterfully communicates how our desire for happiness and God’s desire to glorify Himself are not at odds. It is not too late to join! Let me Spur you on to spiritual maturity & prosperity!