Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 ESV
Eyes closed, tiny lips pressed tightly together, he shook his little blonde head in defiance. It wasn’t his bottle of formula or his creamy oatmeal, both staples of his diet up to this point in his short life. He was determined not to accept anything other than what he was accustomed to.
I took a small bite myself, then swallowed with exclamations of “Yummy, yummy, yummy for your tummy!”
I tried again to coax his little mouth open with the half-filled baby spoon hovering in front of his lips. “Choo-Choo train coming! Choo-Choo! Open wide so the Choo-Choo train can go through the tunnel! Choo-Choo!”
Eventually, after multiple attempts and many goofy antics (mine), I wore the little guy out, and his mouth opened narrowly. I thrust the loaded little spoon between his lips, and he involuntarily swallowed.
Victory!! His and mine. He eagerly opened his tiny mouth for another bite. Yes! It was official. Applesauce was now on the menu.
This picture comes to mind when I think of the women I’ve talked with about reading God’s Word for themselves. So many reasons…so many excuses why they simply can’t find time or see the need to pick up a Bible and read it for themselves.
Whoever gives thought to the Word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. – Proverbs 16:20 ESV
They attend church, listen to podcasts, and attend Bible Study to hear the video teacher speak, but making time to read Scripture for themselves, with the objective of listening to what God has to say…that’s asking too much!
“I won’t understand it.”
“I don’t have time to focus.”
“It’s a hectic time of life; when things calm down, I’ll have more time.
“I’ve been in church forever; I think I’ve heard the whole Bible taught already.”
“I hear God’s Word taught by preachers, Bible studies with video teaching, and on podcasts. I’ve got a good idea of what the Bible says.”
Excuses, excuses, excuses. The baby believer inside has its mouth clenched, eyes closed, and head shaking.
“No, no, no. I won’t give up my time to start reading my Bible regularly. I already know what I need to know.”
“I refuse to taste and see for myself what God says in His Word; I am happy and satisfied with my baby formula and creamy oatmeal.”
Of course, those words aren’t spoken aloud, but the evidence of our lives speaks volumes about the infant-like position we’ve taken—and the infant-like sustenance that forms the fragile foundation of our faith.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, “I can’t talk to you like spiritual grown-ups; you’re infants in Christ. I couldn’t give you the solid food of the Truth, because you’re not ready for it.” (My paraphrase of I Corinthians 3:2-3.)
In the Adult Sunday School Class at a former church, Russ (the class teacher, my husband and in-house theologian) challenged the class at year’s end to set a goal to read their Bible—all 66 books—in the coming year. A number indicated they would make that their goal. Throughout the year, Russ reminded and encouraged folks to keep up the good work and pick up where they left off if they fell behind.
At the end of the year, one dear woman in her mid-to-late 80s wanted to share a praise. With tears in her eyes and a choked voice, she said that for the first time in the many decades since she became a believer, she had read her Bible from start to finish in response to Russ’ challenge. She was overwhelmed by all she had learned about God and how much she had grown spiritually over the past twelve months.
Eighty-plus years old, she finally moved past the spiritual milk of the Word to its more substantial, meaty substance. She was overjoyed and determined to read it once again in the new year.
The writer of Hebrews challenges believers to grow beyond simply subsisting on the easy-to-digest milk of God’s Word. “Don’t remain a child!”
For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. – Hebrews 5:13 ESV
In his second letter to Timothy, the young pastor who had taken over leadership of the Church of Ephesus, Paul encourages Timothy to stand strong in the faith. This final writing by the Apostle emphasizes the critical importance of God’s Word in equipping and enabling the believer to stand strong, regardless of God’s specific calling for your life.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
We stand strong in our faith and in the testimony of our lives only when we are grounded in God’s Word.
If you are still trying to satisfy your soul with baby formula and creamy oatmeal, set it aside. God offers a spiritual banquet table filled with substance and nourishment for the ever-growing spiritual appetite.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. – Colossians 3:16 ESV
How’s your spiritual appetite, friend?
Are your eyes squeezed shut and your lips sealed tight as you push away the bounty of God’s Truth that He has prepared to feed your heart, mind, and spirit?
Or are you delighting in God’s spiritual banquet table of truth and delights that feed your soul, engage your mind, and fill your heart as He equips you to bring others to His banquet table?
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! –Psalm 119:103 ESV