“Mature faith wants more: more of God’s Word, more of His presence, more of His mission.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 4, 2026
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14
Salvation is a beginning, not a destination. Some have been saved by the Lord but never sanctified by the Lord. They received the gift of grace but never fully unwrap it. They have their fire insurance from hell but never learned how to live for heaven. The writer of Hebrews names this condition plainly, spiritual infancy. And while it is entirely understandable to start as a babe in Christ, it is neither acceptable nor harmless to stay one.
The image is unnervingly exact. An infant cannot feed himself, dress himself, or care for others around him. His world revolves solely around his own needs and comfort. He cries when hungry, sleeps when tired, and offers nothing to the household beyond the joy of his presence. That is suitable for an infant. It becomes a problem in a grown man.
Spiritually, infant Christians behave similarly. They focus on themselves instead of pointing others to Jesus. They worry about their own needs instead of serving those around them. When pressure builds, they forget about God and worry instead of praying. They are drawn to earthly rewards and remain indifferent to eternal ones. Paul bluntly described this condition in the Corinthian church: “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2).
The path forward isn’t complicated, but it is demanding. The writer of Hebrews says mature believers are those who, through consistent practice, have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. The word “trained” evokes the image of an athlete in disciplined training, not a one-time event but an ongoing, repeated effort. Spiritual maturity isn’t achieved in a moment. It’s cultivated over a lifetime through Scripture, prayer, obedience, and community.
C.S. Lewis captured the stakes precisely: “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.” Maturity is not an optional upgrade for serious Christians; it is the entire point.
It is right and beneficial to start with milk. Peter himself says newborn believers should crave pure spiritual milk so that they may grow by it (1 Peter 2:2). Milk is not the enemy; staying on milk is. The question every believer must honestly answer is this: has your faith grown beyond your initial confession? Are you progressing or just coasting? Is your knowledge of Scripture deepening, or have you become comfortable with what you already know?
Mature faith wants more: more of God’s Word, more of His presence, more of His mission. Epaphras wrestled in prayer that the Colossians would stand firm, mature and fully assured in the will of God (Colossians 4:12). That same prayer is God’s desire for every one of His children.
Infant Christians need everything. Mature Christians bring everything they have to God and to others. Grow up. The table is set. The meat is ready. By grace grow from infant to adult.
“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” (Ephesians 4:13-14).
Prayer
Lord, I refuse to remain an infant in faith. Transform my mind through Your Word, train my discernment, and grow me into the fullness of Christ — mature, stable, and equipped for every good work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
How can the understanding and application of Scripture become a consistent, deepening routine in your faith?
Related Reading
Isaiah 28:23-29; Ezekiel 37:23; Luke 8:14-15; Romans 12:2
Worship Resource
Phil Wickham/Jamie MacDonald: Flowers
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