βAnd I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye ableβ (1 Cor. 3:1-2).
When we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we undergo βregenerationβ (Titus 3:5) or new birth. At that point, we are babes in Christ. There is joy when one is saved and born into the family of God, but there is sorrow, and rightfully so, when oneΒ remainsΒ a babe and doesnβt grow spiritually. The Corinthians were failing to grow in Christ, and this grieved the heart of Paul. He longed for that joy of watching babes in Christ, whom he had led to the Lord, βhenceforth be no more childrenβ¦andβ¦grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christβ (Eph. 4:14-15).
Natural babies and βbabes in Christβ have similar characteristics. Babies are dependent and unable to feed themselves. They often get into trouble and make a mess. They need to be watched closely and demand a lot of time and attention. They have no control and no concern for others. They fuss, cry, and want their way. These are natural things that are typical and expected of babies, but when believers like the Corinthians, who were no longer new to the faith, exhibited characteristics like this, something was wrong, and it was time for them to grow up.
Paul pointed out to the Corinthians, βI have fed you with milk, and not with meat.β The Word of God is our spiritual food. We receive spiritual nourishment through taking in Godβs Word by reading, studying, and hearing it taught. Just as much as we need physical nourishment to live and grow, weΒ needΒ spiritual nourishment through the regular intake of Godβs Word to live and grow.
God calls each believer to grow and mature in Christ by His Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17). And when it comes to our spiritual growth, we should never think that weβve arrived. βWhen Pablo Casals reached 95, a young reporter threw him a question: βMr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?β And Mr. Casals answered, βBecause I think Iβm making progress.'β May we never stop making progress in Godβs Word rightly divided! source
