SOUNDING OUT:
Are You Enjoying Solid Food?
When you hear the Word taught or someone confronts
you about something in your life, like having a real subtle attitude
or not treating people with love or respect, how do you respond?
Do you gag or do you delight in it? Hebrews has some interesting
instruction for us concerning “strong meat” or “solid
food.” Let’s read several different translations.
Hebrews 5:14:
KJV
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both
good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14: NIV
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained
themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14: NAS
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have
their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14: NLT
Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves
to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do
what is right.
Mature Christians don’t gag
on solid food. They have acquired a taste for meat, and although
they still drink milk with their meals, they desire “strong
meat” for their continued nourishment and growth. When you
set down to dine do you ever find something on your plate that
you haven’t eaten before? Perhaps the cut of meat deals
with strife or backbiting. Instead of getting defensive you decide
to be mature about it, and eat what is set before you with thanksgiving.
“Solid food” or “strong meat” are
for those who want to grow… those who want training in how
to really live. “Solid food” provides lessons that
take disciplined application of the truth to real life situations.
The mature want to deal with these areas of life when they are
identified.
Solid food is for the mature. One of the signs of maturity
is really wanting to eat solid food. The mature will deal with
any area of their life, even if others are not having to deal
with it. Even if others, “get away with it,” the mature
do not want to. They want to be conformed to the image of Christ,
and are glad that they are meek enough to receive the instruction
they need.
When confronted with solid food, don’t get defensive.
Instead, take that solid food and chew on it, and chew on it,
and chew on it until you are ready to swallow it. Then you can
digest it and get it into your heart and into your life.
We should desire to exercise or train ourselves unto godliness.
God’s Word has plenty of instruction. As we acquire a taste
for it, we will keep getting better at eschewing evil and cleaving
to that which is good. When you dine on God’s Word today,
eat all that is set before you. At least take a bite and taste
it. Try it, you may like it. The psalmist did and encouraged us
saying “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is
the man that trusteth in him (Psalm 34:8).
