MEAT EATING MENTORS

MEAT EATING MENTORS

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

1Peter 2:1-5 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Hebrews 5:9-14 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  It was years before I discovered that having mentors is not the norm in Christianity, even among evangelicals. And it wasn’t until later that I realized how fortunate I am in not only having multiple mentors but also that they were meat eaters and therefore exceptionally learned and wise; Berean men that sought and listened to our Lord and His mature undershepherds. (Act.17:11)

  Those first, then later staffers, made it very plain that I was to eventually move on from milk to meat and potatoes in order that I too would be a mentor exhorting others in the way of our Lord with my senses discerning good and evil. I soon found out that doing and maintaining this responsibility requires work, more work, and continuing work. There is no mentors’ high plateau of attainment to retire upon. Being in the service of the King of kings is an unending occupation that He does not terminate. That is up to us.

  Let us not be as Willard, a man that from cradle roll until demise faithfully attended church and Sunday school and especially never missed a potluck lunch or supper. I came to know him the last few years of his life. Willard did not lack in intelligence. He could quote history, facts and figures galore from his employment, hobbies, and other areas of interest. He could rattle off States and capitols, presidents, sports data and more, but when it came to God’s Word he would often say “I didn’t know that was in the Bible.” Though Willard lived 70 years, he tragically never became of “full age” but remained a juvenile “unskillful in the word of righteousness”.

  Let us be as those of Berea, not at all like the Willards that populate Thessalonicas. Let us live as noble men and women eagerly working at studying and examining the Word received. And in so doing mature to the status of mentoring others in the Way of our Lord.

  Amen?

EBB4