The psalmist expresses a deep yearning to be in the presence of God, declaring that even a single day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. This longing is not just about a physical place, but about the joy, protection, and favor that come from dwelling with the Lord. When you make it your desire to be near God, you find true happiness and blessing, no matter your circumstances. The Lord does not withhold good from those who walk with integrity, and trusting in Him brings a deep sense of fulfillment that the world cannot offer. [29:33]
Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12 (CSB)
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of Armies.
I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield.
The Lord grants favor and honor;
he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.
Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally seek God's presence today, even in the midst of your daily routine?
Just as physical growth is expected and celebrated, spiritual growth is essential for every believer. Remaining spiritually immature—content with only the basics of faith—prevents you from experiencing the fullness of what God has for you and limits your ability to impact others. God desires that you move from spiritual milk to solid food, growing in understanding and maturity so you can teach and disciple others. This growth is a lifelong journey, and it requires a willingness to be taught, to listen, and to put God's truth into practice. [42:45]
Hebrews 5:11–6:1 (CSB)
We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Reflection: In what area of your faith have you been content to remain a “spiritual infant,” and what is one step you can take this week to grow deeper?
Spiritual immaturity often stems from a lack of interest or laziness toward the things of God. When you lose your hunger for God’s Word, worship, and fellowship, your heart can become calloused, making it difficult to hear and respond to God’s truth. Jesus warned that those who hear but do not internalize His teaching will lose even what they have. Keeping a soft, teachable heart allows you to receive, apply, and be transformed by God’s Word, leading to intimacy with Him and a life that reflects His character. [58:35]
Matthew 13:11-15 (CSB)
He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen, but never understand;
you will look and look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts and turn back—
and I would heal them.”
Reflection: Is there an area where you’ve grown indifferent or “callous” to God’s voice? How can you open your heart to be teachable again today?
As you grow in Christ, you develop the ability to discern between good and evil, not just in obvious ways but in the subtle choices and attitudes of daily life. Spiritual maturity is not just about knowledge, but about having your senses trained by practice—learning to celebrate what is good and to reject what is evil. This discernment is a sign of growth and is essential for living a life that honors God and influences others for Christ. [01:09:14]
Hebrews 5:14 (CSB)
But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you faced a moral or ethical choice—how did you respond, and what would a mature, Christlike response look like next time?
Spiritual maturity is not just for your own benefit; it equips you to help others grow in their faith. God calls mature believers to mentor, disciple, and encourage those who are still young in their spiritual journey. This responsibility is serious and vital for the health of the church and the advancement of God’s kingdom. As you grow, look for opportunities to invest in others, walking alongside them and helping them take their next steps with Jesus. [01:16:09]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can encourage or mentor in their faith this week, and what is one practical way you can do that?
This morning, we gathered to celebrate God’s faithfulness and the many ways He is working in and through our church family. From the joy of serving our community during recent outreach events, to the blessing of seeing our children and youth ministries grow, it’s clear that God is moving among us. We rejoiced in the progress toward becoming debt-free, not for our own comfort, but so we can invest more deeply in reaching and discipling the next generation. These practical updates are not just announcements—they are reminders that every act of service, every gift, and every prayer is part of God’s larger story for our church.
Turning to God’s Word, we reflected on the call to spiritual maturity from Hebrews 5:11–6:1. Just as we expect children to grow and mature, God desires that we grow up in our faith. The danger is that, over time, we can become spiritually stagnant—content with the basics, indifferent to deeper things, and even lazy in our pursuit of God. The writer of Hebrews warns against this, painting a vivid picture of believers who, though they should be teachers by now, are still spiritual infants needing milk instead of solid food.
Spiritual immaturity is not just a personal issue; it affects the whole body of Christ. When we fail to grow, we miss out on the richness of God’s truth and the joy of being used by Him to impact others. The root of this immaturity is often a lack of interest, a hardening of the heart, or simply spiritual laziness. But God’s desire is for us to be teachable, to hunger for His Word, and to allow His righteousness to transform not just our beliefs, but our conduct and character.
The cure for spiritual immaturity is not found in trying harder, but in drawing near to Jesus, daily seeking Him in His Word, prayer, and honest repentance. As we do, our senses are trained to discern good from evil, and we become equipped to help others grow as well. The journey of faith is not meant to be static; it is a lifelong process of growing deeper in Christ and helping others do the same. Today, the invitation is to take the next step—whether that means moving from milk to meat, returning to God after drifting, or stepping up to disciple someone else. God is ready to meet us where we are and lead us forward.
Hebrews 5:11–6:1 (ESV) — 11 About this 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 need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
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