Go on to maturity...

Read Hebrews 6:1-3

Hebrews 6 begins by telling us to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity.  Then God shares what's considered elementary teachings - repentance, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  When I look at this list I'd think this is not an elementary list.  What do you think?

The interesting thing about chapter six is that it's connected with the end of Hebrews 5 where we're told solid food is needed and not milk.  Milk is the food for infants while solid food is for the mature.  The solid food being talked about is the teaching about righteousness and for the mature who are able to discern and have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Listen the word of God is so important we need both milk and solid food.  But using this illustration milk is for babies while solid food is for maturing disciples of Christ.  Imagine still eating baby food you can only grow so much until you need food that is right for physical growth.  It's the same thing with spiritual growth - we need to chew on the word of God as our food that will assist us and guide us so that we can grow in our faith. 

Let's go on to maturity by building on the foundation of our faith that was our first spiritual food and go on to meatier matters.  Let's leave the elementary teachings as we relate with God and when we meet with one another in community, learning the importance of spiritual growth as we grow in our love and knowledge of God.