The heading for the last section of the chapter is "Warning Against Apostasy". Apostasy means "abandonment of one's religious faith". The author is concerned about the believers who aren't growing in knowledge of His wisdom. He refers to the immature believers as ones that receive milk (as a child) and mature believers to receive solid food (like an adult). The majority of people start in their faith as immature, only able to receive milk because they are still futile in their thinking. You can't expect a baby to understand a book written to a teenager, and I know it sounds silly- but the same is true with our spiritual maturity. I remember the days when what I read the Bible, didn't make much sense at all. Not that I understand God's Word completely- because I am very far from that, but I do understand it much better than I used to. God gives you understanding as you are able to receive it. As we grow in our faith and in our relationship with Jesus, God gives us more wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Him. If you find yourself to be insecure in your faith, take heart- because you aren't born mature, you grow. And after receiving, understanding and obeying the "basic principles of the oracles of God" you will be able to receive the solid food. If you think you are receiving milk, ask God to give you more wisdom, knowledge and understanding. James 1:5- "If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him." The reason I believe the heading of this section is "Warning Against Apostasy" may be that people get frustrated because they don't understand the Word of God or even the basic principles of following Him. Instead of asking God, they harden their hearts, and become "dull of hearing". Instead of growing, as God desires, they take steps backward. The last sentence in this chapter says, "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Did you get that? Constant practice. It doesn't come without effort. But don't give up, because the rewards of having wisdom and knowledge are well worth the cost!
~Leanne~
~Leanne~
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