Stunted Growth
Hebrews 5:12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
It is measuring time again in the Wilson household! Both boys dutifully march into the kitchen in their stocking feet, lean against the door jamb, and try to stand as tall as possible.
Dad gets out his black marker and tape measure, lays the marker on top of the first kid and makes a height mark. The young man turns around excitedly to see how tall he is now. With a flourish worthy of a Las Vegas magician whips out the tape measure, marks the spot with a name and a date, then announces, “Tommy, you have grown an inch in the last month!” The requisite dad joke is pronounced, then it is Billy’s turn.
Billy has dreaded measuring day for a while now. Something is wrong, and Billy can hear his parents’ whispered talking each time. Billy’s height is marked and his dad sighs a deep sigh. Billy isn’t growing up, he is growing down.
Billy’s parents decide that is time to see a doctor. Surely it’s not normal for a six year old child to stay the same height for months. Something is stunting Billy’s growth.
As you read today’s verse you can almost hear the writer of Hebrews sighing a deep sigh as he pens the verse. He would love to teach the readers something deep and important, but they just aren’t ready. They haven’t grown in their faith, and many of them have shrunk. Something is wrong.
There is a difference between 15 years of experience and one year of experience 15 times. If you consistently find yourself struggling with the same issues over and over again, if your prayer life degrades, or if you feel yourself drawn back to the old you, it is time to make an appointment with God, the Divine Physician, and get yourself back on an upward trajectory.
Today’s Readings: Hosea 13,14; Psalm 100,102; Hebrews 5
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