May 29, 2011

Maturing in Christ

Hebrews 5:11-6:6

Let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.
Hebrews 6:1

— 

Pavel, a listener to our Russian programming, first wrote to us about five years ago. We mailed him a Bible and referred him to a local church that he started attending. Just lately we received an email from him saying that he decided to quit his church because “it’s boring.” He still knows very little about Christianity. What a disappointment!

Every pastor or missionary could probably tell a similar story. In today’s verses the author of Hebrews expresses his disappointment with the slow spiritual progress in converts to Christianity. He wants to share an important teaching with them, but he can’t. His readers are not ready to hear this teaching—it will just go over their heads.

Dismayed, the author says that they still need milk instead of solid food. Many years have passed since they first expressed their commitment to Christ, and yet they’re still babies in their faith.

Many of us also “shared in the Holy Spirit” and “tasted the goodness of the word of God” some time ago. But we must ask ourselves, “Am I advancing in God’s grace and righteousness?” Studying God’s Word, praying, attending a local church—these are steps that help us mature in Christ and enable us to switch from spiritual milk to spiritual solid food.

Father, thank you for feeding us daily with your Word and Spirit! Make us worthy students of your grace and righteousness. In Christ’s name! Amen.

About the author — Sergei Sosedkin

Sergei Sosedkin is the Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. He is a native of Moscow, Russia. As he oversees the Russian-language ministry, Sosedkin works from our office in Grand Rapids and in various locations in Russia.

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