Hebrews 5:11-14 (Click on reference to read text)
My kids are really into bike riding these days. My oldest puts the pedal to the medal and pumps her little legs as fast as she can. Not her brother. The pedals are a little too hard for my baby to figure out, so he pushes himself with his little legs. He doesn't want to put in the time to learn to work the pedals, but if he would, he would get the benefit and exhilaration of really going fast!
In many ways, we act the same way in Bible study that my little buddy does when riding a bike. Studying the Word can be hard, it takes time, it takes effort and prayer. So instead of seeking out the Lord ourselves, we will often run to a devotional book, a sermon, or a Bible study leader. I am not saying it is bad to listen to sermons and read devotionals. Both routes we take (personal Bible Study vs. Devotionals) we are growing spiritually, but exclusively taking the second route will only take us so far.
Paul describes this scenario in Hebrews 5 through the comparison of milk and solid food. Milk or baby food is already broken down to a simple and easily digestible form. When we choose to always go to a devotional book or sermon, we are choosing to eat off the work of the writer. They have already done the chewing on the Word, breaking down the scriptures, and putting it into an easily digestible nugget for us to devour.
God wants you to feel His presence. To understand the exhilaration of learning about Him through His Word. He desires us to chew on His word, meditate on it and understand more about Him.
My little buddy is technically riding a bike, even though he is only really pushing himself along. I hope before too long he will be willing to put in the work to learn to pedal so he can really understand the joy of riding a bike. May that be our prayer spiritually as well. May we not always go to a devotional or depend upon a Sermon to get a Word from the Lord. May we get on the bike, put our feet on the pedals and go. We may plod along at first, but I promise, before long we will be flying along in our knowledge of Him!
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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