A newborn babe is so marvelous to cradle in one's arms. Then to see how contented he/she is as the babe grows when he or she is embraced closely to the mother.
It is proven that mother's milk is always the best for the newborn, of any type of mammal, for that matter. It's unfortunate for mother and child when that is not possible. However, as the babe nurses for months on end, he or she is nourished and nurtured with the best of God's creative 'organic products'.
This is a continually amazing phenomenon. A helpless, totally dependent babe encircled in loving arms which bestow lavish affection upon the infant. Coupled with the miracle of mother's milk, the baby grows strong into a "sapling" that continues to thrive upon the milk and eventually upon other nutritious foods with the ability to feed on meat and other more "solid" foods; growing, hopefully, in wisdom and stature, into grown adulthood.
The analogy, however, doesn't necessarily follow through as parents tend to want their children to grow up into independent, responsible and mature personages. If done right, all the nourishing and nurturing will allow the individual to transfer its dependence from the parents to God, Himself. This is a necessary element that is part and parcel of the nourishing and nurturing process.
True to life and nature, true to the spiritual realm.
God's Word the Bible, bestows a growing, flourishing, healthy spiritual life in a believer in Jesus Christ. The more a person feds upon God's Word, the more the reader "eater" will grow up into a mature child of God. God does not want His children to be so independent though. We need Him every hour (as one hymn rhymes) of every day.
The type of foods a person eats will determine the level of health. The level of becoming more like Christ depends upon the amount we "feed" upon His Word and obey it, as opposed to feeding on any plethora of available reading material, movies, etc, one imbibes.
The apostle Paul admonished the Corinthian believers:
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly..." (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NIV)
This is a sad case where "the child" did not grow; was somewhat refusing to be weaned.
Our ancient brother Timothy is a pleasure to learn about though. Look at 2 Timothy 1:5, 6; and especially 3:15-17 NIV,
"...and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus...useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
There's a grown, mature Timothy who became pro-active with his mother's and grandmother's nurturing and teaching and Paul's encouragement and "finishing school" teachings.
I just sigh and wish the brothers-in-Christ, especially, could be like Timothy.
Actually they can.
And so can everyone else.
Read God's Word and be nourished in your inner man or woman.
Of course, just reading is a big help but the putting it into practice is the real growth hormone, so to speak.
Once upon a time, I memorized Ephesians 4:9-16 and it comes back to me now. No, not to be able to quote it to you verbatim without looking, but I will type it, from my NIV, below from verse 12,
"...to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Sigh, again...
Isn't it a spectacular portrait of a well nourished person and church!?
All that from feeding on God's Word, putting it into action and using our God-given gifts for the furtherance of His kingdom.
What a responsibility! Be nourished ourselves so that in turn we can help to nourish others into a network of vigorous flourishing so that in turn, together, there is cohesive maturity and dependence upon Christ our Head.
I think God will look upon such a scene and with a deep contented, well-pleased sigh, say, "Aww, look at them! Aren't My children so sweet!"
~ERC August 2019~
Songs:
I Need Thee Every Hour as presented by Fernando Ortega
Another song with a lighter yet still instructive note: Read Your Bible and Pray Every Day as presented by Canaan City of Refuge
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