A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #11, October 1991 (Internet Edition) S O L I D F O O D ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective 1 - The Milk-fed Perspective 2 - The Healthy Perspective 3 - Appetite Perspective 4 - A Steady Diet ----------------------------------------------------------------- The two cats were an unexpected bonus with the purchase of our new home. A female and her mature son, they were friendly but thin and sickly. The cloudy, sort of squinty look in their eyes told us they were seriously malnourished--almost starving. The previous owner had been mostly absent from the property and when he would show up on weekends, he would magnanimously pour the two cats a large helping of milk, but offer them little else. We went to work immediately, feeding them wholesome dry food. Soon the squinty look left their eyes and they began filling out, their ribs disappearing beneath new flesh and a healthier coat. We soon noticed, however, that the pleasant weight gain in the female was exceeding that expected from food alone. Consequently, about six weeks later, we discovered her and her four new kittens in their nest under the woodpile. A birthing cat is an amazing thing. She rarely needs any assistance in delivering her young and will see to both their needs and her own without any help from humans. After the first kitten emerges, the mother will eat the amniotic sac (membrane or afterbirth), which also breaks the umbilical cord. She licks any obstructing material from the nose and mouth of that first kitten. Then the rest of the kittens emerge. By consuming the amniotic sac, the mother cat ensures that the first few day's milk (colostrum) contains enormous amounts of protein and antibodies, which will nourish the kittens and protect them against disease during those first critical days. That initial mother's milk is vital to the strength and well-being of the kitttens. With it, they will grow to be healthy, bright eyed and typically rambunctious; without it, they could be sickly or be lacking the vigor to fend off disease, allergies or cold. They will be stunted. But as critical as that early milk is, it is not sufficient for maturity. In about six to eight weeks they will need to be weaned to more substantial sustenance: Kitten Chow, nibbles from their mother's bowl, or--in the absence of human intervention-- shares of her prey of mice, birds, etc. The result of adult cats being sustained by milk alone is evidenced in the condition of the parents when we first came on the scene: malnourished, hollow-eyed, lethargic, devoid of the spark of an active, vital life. What was originally essential nutrient, had become a miserable substitute for solid food. The writer to the Hebrews put it this way: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. HEB 5:13-14 This month in Aspects we will consider: - the immature, milk-fed Christian - the healthy believer, one accustomed to solid food - the pathway to a healthier appetite - establishing a steady diet of solid food _________________________ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. PHI 1:9-11 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 1: T H E M I L K - F E D ------------- Let us first consider the condition of those who have been accustomed to a diet of pablum. We must at once be gentle with them, as they are ill-prepared for the full strength of doctrine, and brutally frank, as they require something strong by which to be snapped out of their "dullness of hearing."(1) _________________________ Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 1 Cor. 3:1-2 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephes. 4:14 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 2 Tim. 3:6-7 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Hebrews 5:11-13 1CO 3:1-3 EPH 4:11-18 2TI 3:1-7 2PE 1:9 2PE 3:14-17 _________________________ "The doctrine of justification by faith--a biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort--has in our time fallen into evil company and been interpreted by many in such a manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be "received" without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is "saved," but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God. In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and is encouraged to be content with little. "How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of "accepting" Christ (a term, coincidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls. We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him, we need no more seek Him."(2) _________________________ Ignorance or laziness is not always the reason behind spiritual immaturity. It can also be from misplaced allegiance. The believers in Corinth were filled with the Spirit, they were sanctified, "saints by calling" who were "not lacking in any gift." Yet they were still babes in their faith; they were more interested in following after men than Jesus Christ--and the wisdom they needed for spiritual maturity could only be found in Jesus and His word, not in men. Where do you go for God's wisdom? Is it necessary for you to be spoon-fed by others the simple "milk" of the word, or are you capable of feeding yourself from the rich, sustaining "meat" to be found there? Are you satisfied hearing, week after week, the basic salvation message--nodding your head complacently, pleased that you are numbered among the saints--or do you hunger for the spiritual maturity that comes with walking in Jesus Christ, daily communion with the Father, and daily feasting from His word? If you open your Bible and just sit there, staring with glazed expression at the confusing jumble of words, then go to the Father in prayer, ask Him to speak to you through His holy Scripture. Ask for His wisdom to touch your heart through the Holy Spirit, and bring to life His written word. Then read...and listen. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 2: T H E H E A L T H Y ------------- As I write this the kittens are six weeks old. While all four are still nursing, three are beginning to supplement their mother's milk by eating solid food. They are (outrageously) healthy scamps, tearing around all the time, pestering their mother and dad, and learning how to box each other about the ears. But the fourth kitten still refuses to be nourished by solid food. Try as we might to entice him with something more substantial, he would still rather let his mother feed him. He is not yet sickly, but this kitten is slower than the rest, thinner, and not as rambunctious. _________________________ A portrait of one accustomed to solid food: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. Psalm 63:1-11 (A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah) Luk 8:4-15 Phi 3:10-16 Heb 5:14-6:3 _________________________ Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord Teach me Thy way, O Lord, Teach me Thy way! Thy guiding grace afford--Teach me Thy way! Help me to walk aright, More by faith, less by sight; Lead me with heav'nly light, Teach me Thy way! When I am sad at heart, Teach me Thy way! When earthly joys depart, Teach me Thy way! In hours of loneliness, In times of dire distress, In failure or success, Teach me Thy way! When doubts and fears arise, Teach me Thy way! When storms o'erspread the skies, Teach me Thy way! Shine thro'the cloud and rain, Thro' sorrow, toil and pain; Make Thou my pathway plain, Teach me Thy way! Long as my life shall last, Teach me Thy way! Where'er my lot be cast, Teach me Thy way! Until the race is run, Until the journey's done, Until the crown is won, Teach me Thy way!(3) _________________________ "He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child; teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep; wake him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise; follow him." (Persian proverb) "Let us not cease to do the utmost, that we may incessantly go forward in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the smallness of our accomplishments." (Calvin) "Progress is the only alternative to falling. We must advance or we shall decline. To prevent decay we must grow." (Wilmot)(4) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 3: A P P E T I T E ------------- I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philip. 3:10-11 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:8-10 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 _________________________ "The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. We have almost forgotten that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the full possibilities of both can be explored. Being made in His image we have within us the capacity to know Him." (Tozer) "There is a state of grace which can be enjoyed by Christians demonstrably higher than that which is commonly enjoyed." (Sangster)(5) _________________________ Higher Ground I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day; Still praying as I'm onward bound, "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." Refrain Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven's tableland, A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay; Though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim, is higher ground. I want to live above the world, though Satan's darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of saints on higher ground. I want to scale the utmost height, and catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I'll pray till heaven I've found, "Lord, lead me on to higher ground."(6) _________________________ While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 _________________________ "This condition is not gained by apathy or by slothfulness, for there is no room in the Christian life for mental laziness. It is gained by the regular exercise of the spiritual faculties in the Word of God and in the doctrines of the Christian faith, for there is no easy way to spiritual maturity."(7) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 4: A S T E A D Y D I E T ------------- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Cor. 2:4-5 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philip. 3:13-14 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Hebrews 6:1-3 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:1-4 _________________________ "Six Benefits of Being Spiritually Informed: 1. Knowledge gives substance to faith. 2. Knowledge stabilizes us during times of testing. 3. Knowledge enables us to handle the Bible accurately. 4. Knowledge equips us to detect and confront error. 5. It makes us confident in our daily walk. 6. A good foundation of spiritual truth filters out our fears and superstitions."(8) _________________________ Though I am very often the guilty party, I still can't understand why anyone would settle for a plain vanilla Christian walk. Is that what all of God's expenditure was for? Just so we could get our foot in the door of heaven? Being a Christian and not doing anything with it is like being miserably poor; then someone risks his life to deliver you a million dollars, so you can buy new clothes for your family and put a decent meal on the table; but instead you place the million dollars into a tin can and bury it in your back yard. This whole thing leads into areas of service, evangelism, teaching--even worship. But what all of these begin with is the desire to be a mature Christian--to dig deeper, to come to a full knowledge of all the glorious and rewarding facets of living with Christ. "Progress towards maturity is not to be measured by victory over the sins we are aware of, but by hatred of the sins which we had overlooked and which we now see all too clearly."(9) ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1. from Hebrews 5:11 NASB. 2. A.W. Tozer, from The Pursuit of God (Christian Publications, 1982), p. 12,16. 3. B. Mansell Ramsey, Hymn #395 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 4. Persian proverb as cited by Charles Swindoll in his book Come Before Winter...and Share My Hope (Multnomah Press, 1985), p.20; John Calvin in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p.134; John Wilmot, ibid, p.135. 5. A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Christian Publications, 1982), p12-14; W.E. Sangster, quoted in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p135. 6. Johnson Oatman. 7. Thomas Hewitt, B.D., M.TH. in The Tyndale Commentary on The Epistle to the Hebrews (Eerdman's, 1975), p.102. 8. Charles R. Swindoll in his book Growing Deep in the Christian Life: Returning To Our Roots (Multnomah Press, 1986), p.25-26. 9. Arthur C. Custance in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p.134. Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Subscription Information ------------------------ Aspects is published monthly. There are two preferred methods of receiving it on a regular basis: 1) You may subscribe to the laser-printed (hard copy) edition, which is sent out via regular mail. This edition is different from this file you are reading in the following ways: - a "typeset" look, with italics, larger titles and headings, etc. - Scripture text and quotations are more obviously set apart - lines printed for your notes after each question - arrives pre-punched for a 3-ring binder - generally looks better 2) You may subscribe to the e-mail edition, which will be "mailed" to you directly each month. This edition will be formatted just like this file you are now reading--which still contains all the text of the printed edition. There is no charge for either option. For a free subscription to Aspects, send a note to "dlampel@dlampel.com" Please specify the method by which you wish to receive Aspects. Be sure to include your postal mailing address if you choose the printed edition. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aspects is distributed free-of-charge, without obligation, in service to our Lord and to His glory. Reader opinions are always welcome, as are insights into the published material. Send all comments to the above address. We always appreciate hearing when someone has been edified by this work. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes on the "online" Format ---------------------------- Certain adaptations to the text are necessary for distribution of this ASCII edition of Aspects. Endnote reference numbers are enclosed in parentheses (); quotations are enclosed by quotation marks " ", and are further set apart from original text by indentation and the presence of a following endnote reference; Scripture references are indented, and either cite the reference or are accompanied by a following endnote reference. If you would prefer reading Aspects in its more native, printed form, we would encourage you to subscribe to the edition that is mailed out every month. ---------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/aspects: asp-011.txt