November 3
Grow Up!

Hebrews 5

New International Version (NIV)

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. ³ This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”^[a]

⁶ And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”^[b]

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Falling Away

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
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If someone were to ask  you, "How has your life of faith changed since last year?"
Would you say, "It's pretty much the same."?
Or would you be able to say, "I can't believe how much I have grown this year!"?

It is still amazing to me, after all these years, that the Lord takes time to teach me new things from His Word, the Bible, each and every time I read it.
Even passages that I have known since my childhood take on new meaning with the passing of time, and the circumstances of my day.
It speaks to me that God is very interested in us "getting it".
He wants us to understand what He has spoken to us!
It is not supposed to be so very high and lofty that only a few extremely educated folks can discern the truth.
His Word is for each one of us, and will minister truth to us in every season of our lives.
The Lord does not want us to stay childish in just being able to recite a few verses, or know the names of the disciples.
He wants to teach us the deep truths of who He is, and who we are ... in Him.