The second reason to study the Bible is because...
Bible study is essential to spiritual maturity.
Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning [Christ] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 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. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Concerning [Christ] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 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. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
In this passage, Peter is giving us great insight into how to gain spiritual maturity. Here he berates the Hebrews saying--"there is a lot to teach you, but it's difficult, because you are slow to learn. You're not getting it!" Peter says that by this time they should be teaching the Word, yet instead they are needing to be feed milk like little babies.
Yet, the key in all of this is that spiritual maturity isn't due to knowing everything there is to know about the Bible, having 100s of verses memorized, or understanding rich theology. What does the last verse say? But solid food is for the mature, who BECAUSE OF PRACTICE have their senses trained to discern good and evil. It's by putting our knowledge of the Word to USE that we grow in spiritual maturity. So, we need to study the Bible and then USE IT in our daily life.
Hendricks says, "The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use." That statement is both a relief and challenge to me. Okay, I don't need to understand everything, but how much am I using it?! How much are you using it? Are you mature enough for solid food or are you still sipping milk?
Yet, the key in all of this is that spiritual maturity isn't due to knowing everything there is to know about the Bible, having 100s of verses memorized, or understanding rich theology. What does the last verse say? But solid food is for the mature, who BECAUSE OF PRACTICE have their senses trained to discern good and evil. It's by putting our knowledge of the Word to USE that we grow in spiritual maturity. So, we need to study the Bible and then USE IT in our daily life.
Hendricks says, "The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use." That statement is both a relief and challenge to me. Okay, I don't need to understand everything, but how much am I using it?! How much are you using it? Are you mature enough for solid food or are you still sipping milk?
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