June 28, 2024
“Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God” – Hebrews 6:1
When I was a kid my favorite breakfast food was cereal. I loved cereal. In case you are wondering, my favorite cereal was Frosted Flakes. I could eat cereal every day. In fact, I could eat cereal at breakfast, lunch, for an after-school snack, and dinner. I loved cereal. During college, I found cereal to still be a great meal. It was easy to prepare and inexpensive.
Although I enjoy a good bowl of cereal, I have learned that it is not quite as beneficial for me as other meals. As I have gotten older, I have learned that there are better options for breakfast: a little less sugar, fewer carbs, and more protein. Although I still eat an occasional bowl of cereal, I do my best to make healthier choices. I like to think that as I have gotten older my food choices have improved.
The writer of Hebrews is urging the readers of this letter to mature in their faith. In the fifth chapter, the author writes, “For everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14) These two verses are written to encourage the reader to consider a better, healthier, more substantial practice of faith. “Milk” does not provide the same benefits to an adult as it does for an infant. For a person of faith to grow in their trust and understanding of God, they must adopt the practices of a mature and disciplined Christian.
I confess that I still love a good bowl of cereal, but it is not the best choice I can make. The same is true for my faith. Although I am tempted to continue with the same practices that I have been comfortable with since my youth, I know that to press on toward “Perfection,” I must choose those practices that move me beyond the basics and grow in my faith. Daily scripture reading, prayer, and worship feeds a healthy life of faith. When these are made a priority, we move closer and closer to the rich life of faith we desire.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
