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).
