"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:14, NIV)
Our text may be "parenthetical" to the chapter, but nonetheless significant. First, "....solid food is for the mature...." Not to sound simplistic, but the only, "solid food," is the "God-Breathed" Word. All else is milk and cookies.
Second, the Greek word for, "trained," is the word from which we get the English word, gymnasium. It means, "to train with one's full effort, presumes full discipline, necessary to be in top 'working condition;' conveys acquiring proficiency through practice." Too few in today's Church, "have trained themselves." They would rather just attend "training classes," sort of like taking diet pills.
Third, the object here is to take the, "solid food," and, "train[] themselves," for something------- "to distinguish good from evil." This is the call of Scripture since the Fall. This is what Jesus Christ, "finished...in His Cross." He, "distinguished good (Himself) from evil (Satan)." Now my life is to reflect the same, in heart, soul, and body. As I go through the Bible, it seems to me that what breaks Father's Heart, a chief sin of man, is my going, "after other gods." Now I may not have a wooden idol in the corner of our living room. But what's in the corner of my heart?
Hebrews declares Jesus Christ as our, "Great High Priest." He cleansed us from sin, "in His Blood." As, "Great High Priest," Jesus "brings" us before the Throne. And my life here, now, is to be an example of a cleansed Follower of Jesus.
Father, in Jesus' Name, may my life be an example to all of, "distinguish good from evil." Amen.
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* See Article on, "Solid Food," Preaching on My Facebook Page
Second, the Greek word for, "trained," is the word from which we get the English word, gymnasium. It means, "to train with one's full effort, presumes full discipline, necessary to be in top 'working condition;' conveys acquiring proficiency through practice." Too few in today's Church, "have trained themselves." They would rather just attend "training classes," sort of like taking diet pills.
Third, the object here is to take the, "solid food," and, "train[] themselves," for something------- "to distinguish good from evil." This is the call of Scripture since the Fall. This is what Jesus Christ, "finished...in His Cross." He, "distinguished good (Himself) from evil (Satan)." Now my life is to reflect the same, in heart, soul, and body. As I go through the Bible, it seems to me that what breaks Father's Heart, a chief sin of man, is my going, "after other gods." Now I may not have a wooden idol in the corner of our living room. But what's in the corner of my heart?
Hebrews declares Jesus Christ as our, "Great High Priest." He cleansed us from sin, "in His Blood." As, "Great High Priest," Jesus "brings" us before the Throne. And my life here, now, is to be an example of a cleansed Follower of Jesus.
Father, in Jesus' Name, may my life be an example to all of, "distinguish good from evil." Amen.
******************
* See Article on, "Solid Food," Preaching on My Facebook Page
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
