Trained Senses (9-16-12)

Hebrews 5:13-14 - "For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

In chapter 5 the writer to the Hebrews is telling his readers that he has much to say to them that he cannot because they are too immature in regard to their faith. He says in verse 12 - "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Spiritual growth is often compared to natural growth. No one is critical of a baby because they eat only milk, but when someone is 10, 20, 30 years old and they still can't feed themselves, let alone feed others, they are looked down on because of their immaturity. Kids act like kids and that's totally fine, and what's more, it's expected. But when an adult is acting like a little kid there is nothing cute about it. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 4 verse 15 that - "we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." That's what the writer is saying to the Hebrews. These believers that he is writing to were not growing up. They should have been teachers, they should have been mature enough not only to feed themselves but also to feed others. But as it was they were so immature that they still needed milk, they couldn't get past the basics. "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." We need to grow up in all aspects into Christ. We need to have all our senses exercised in order to discern good and evil. And the only way that this will happen is by practice. Of course, we start out with milk, but we need to grow up from there. 1 Peter 2:3 says - "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." That's where it starts, "the pure milk of the Word." But we grow up from there. You can't grow strong on milk alone, you need solid food, the meat of the word. Something heavier than just milk. But you'll notice that that verse in Hebrews talked about more than just our sense of taste. It does talk about that, but it goes on to say that because of practice, the mature "have their senses trained to discern good and evil." It's interesting to go through the Scripture and take note of how our senses are talked about in connection to our relationship with God.

The reason we're told that we need to have our senses trained is that we might discern between good and evil. We need to grow up in order that we might know what is good for us and what is bad for us. This is what Solomon asked God for, and it was pleasing in His sight. In 1 Kings 3:9-12 Solomon had just become king and this is what he prayed - ""So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?" It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you." The Lord granted Solomon an extraordinary ability to discern between good and evil simply because he asked for it. And he asked for it in order that he might do the task which the Lord had given him to do in a way that would honor and glorify Him.
Paul prayed a similar prayer for the believers in Philippi. We read in Philippians 1:9-11 - "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." If we walk around as little children in regard to our relationship with God, He will not be glorified. If we are too immature to discern between good and evil, if we do not have our senses trained to discern between good and evil, God will not be magnified in our lives. Paul prayed for the Philippians that they would abound in real knowledge and all discernment. Not so that they could get a big head and show off their knowledge and discernment, but in order that they might grow up to maturity, and as a result, that God might be glorified. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." We need to examine everything carefully to see whether it's good, that is, whether it will draw us closer to God, or whether it is worthless. We need to grow up in all aspects into Christ.

Hebrews 5:14 - "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."