Reading
SAA Notes
Faith and patience together lead us to the inheritance Christ has won for us. Faith does not give up either through despair or through apathy. Your hope in Christ is the anchor for your soul to keep you moored in God’s very presence. He is closer to you than you may think.
SJA Notes
* Holy God of Light, thank You for Jesus, Your word become flesh. Please feed us with the bread of life today.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
The writer points us to deep and important truths.
You do not begin on solid spiritual food, you mature into it.
The training that brings about discernment is not one-off but ongoing and consistent.
Maturity is this discernment, so we can say that spiritual maturity is not something we reach and then forget about.
What then of this “constant practice” of learning to discern?
What helps us understand the truth of the world around us?
What helps us see the reality of who we are, the depths of our sin, our need for salvation?
What helps us see who God is, the depths of His forgiveness, His saving grace and mercy?
What points us to Jesus, who shows us what true discernment looks like?
God’s word!
Hebrews 4 tells us clearly,
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
How do we have our powers of discernment trained by constant practice?
We read and dwell on and wrestle with God’s word. Each day.
We prayerfully request that God would write His word on our hearts. Each day.
This is our regular day-by-day practice.
* God Above,
Thank You for Your word.
Please help us grow in our spiritual maturity.
Amen.