Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

“¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

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There is a lesson for us the congregation.  But, there is also a lesson for us the preachers and teachers. 

 

For the congregation, it is not sufficient for us to show up at church on Sunday or even twice on Sunday.  We can “go through the motions” without growing as we should.  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a classroom without listening carefully, without taking notes, and without studying hard?!  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a gym without working out hard?!     

 

For preachers and teachers, we can consciously or unconsciously condone this “dull of hearing” behavior of the congregation.  We may only require financial support and respect from our congregation.  We may want the congregation to need us more than we want the congregation to be able to become teachers and leaders in the church, as Paul states here that they should be.  We may praise those who just show up without showing any real growth or real fruit in their lives. 

 

It may be easier for preachers and teachers to preach and teach to “the lowest common denominator”, the “dull of hearing”.  It may be easier for preachers and teachers to just recycle sermons and lessons and give the congregation a bottle of milk rather than working hard in their sermon or lesson in order to put fresh steak in it. 

 

We sense how bad Paul wanted his congregation to grow.  “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.  Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?”  Galatians 4:19-21. 

 

We see the gifts of Christ and the goal of preaching and teaching in Ephesians 4:11-15.  “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”  Ephesians 4:11-15.