Hebrews 5:12 “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.”

KEEP TRYING

I will never forget my experience of learning how to water ski. My brother had a friend who had a small boat with a 40 hp outboard. It was powerful enough to pull you up, but you had to know how to get up out of the water. I didn’t. Most people learn after several attempts. Not me! It took me several trips to the lake and several attempts each trip to finally get up. But once I did, I had it. From then on I popped right up out of that water. I am not sure if it was the size of the motor, my size or my inability to learn that caused me to take so long to learn.

Our verse today talks about the inability or maybe the stubbornness of the learner. It says “by this time.” In other words, you should have learned this by now. You should be teaching others. You shouldn’t have to be reminded.

TEACHING MOMENT

Don’t you get frustrated with your child when you have shown them for the 100^th time how to make their bed? You start to believe that they just don’t want to learn. They make the excuse they just aren’t big enough or strong enough to make it like you do. But you have been careful to only expect from them what you know they can handle.

God knows our abilities. After all, He gave them to us. If He expects us to have known things He has taught us, rest assured you have the ability to know it. The word “oracles” actually comes from the Greek word “logos,” which is the word used to describe Christ in John 1. We should know Christ and be teaching Christ. Not simply sitting in our high chair being spoon fed by the Pastor.

What are you waiting for? What are you not doing that the Lord has already asked you to do. Why have you lowered your expectations for your child? Don’t you want little Gertrude to grow strong in the Lord? Then challenge her. Push her to become stronger. Allow her to fail, if necessary, to learn that the Lord is there to pick her up.

Put down the bottle and pick up the fork. It’s time for some real food!