BABY FOOD
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NLT)
Paul uses unique language to communicate his point. He’s speaking to believers in Corinth but cannot address them as spiritual, which is equated with being mature. He calls these believers babies, not because of their age, but because they still look like the world.
Paul visits and writes to the church in Corinth, trying to help these believers change their attitudes and habits. But he can’t speak to them as he wants because they act like children. Generally, children or infants don’t have a negative meaning in the Scriptures. Being newly minted in your relationship with Jesus is nothing to be held with disdain. But Paul describes a childish attitude in these believers that’s keeping them from the wisdom He’s ready to provide them. The baby believers are still wooed by substitutes for Christ and His kingdom. Paul wants them to abandon their other proclivities and embrace real, solid, sustaining food in Jesus.
We can still be tempted to embrace a new, innovative way of life that promises to change everything. But Christ and Christ crucified is truly the meal that consistently delivers what we need: life and life to the full.
APPLICATION: Are there areas where I’m still clinging to spiritual milk? Any places where I’m not entirely investing my life into Christ but into another strategy or resource? Ask God to change your taste buds to be fully satisfied with Him and His way of life.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, make me desire more and more of the things of God and His kingdom. Give me an insatiable desire to be filled up with Your presence. Make the things of this world that are opposed to God disgusting to my desires. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?