For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ~ Hebrews 5:1–14
Ouch! The author of Hebrews writes that, though his readers should be able to teach God’s Word by now, they still need to be taught the “again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” Some long-time Christians today are in the same situation. They may have attended church for years, but they have not studied the Word, so they’re spiritual children. None of us will ever learn or totally understand everything in God’s Word. But are we growing and learning all the time? Do we know more than we did last year or even last month? That’s why discipleship is so important; we can’t rely on one church service a week to teach us all we need to know. We need to include other group learning opportunities and private study to become mature Christians. May we never be spiritual babies!
Lord God, it’s not always easy to read the Bible for myself and to join with others for classes and studies. But Your Word tells me that if I don’t train myself “by constant practice” to distinguish good from evil, I won’t mature in the faith. I want to be a mature Christian, Father. Guide me from infancy in the faith to maturity. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Note: These devotions are also available in print and e-reader formats.
All author proceeds from the devotionals will be donated to Love for the Least. The mission of L4L is to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. Currently they are providing food, mattresses, milk and diapers for babies, and other needs for refugees from ISIS in northern Iraq.