A Healthy Baby

My youngest daughter is getting chunky... that is a good thing. Doctors (generally) say that babies should drink whole milk. Apparently, the high fat content is good for her developing brain and the chunkiness shouldn't be too big a deal due to her high metabolism. (babies have a higher metabolism adults do)

This is nothing new. We have been down this road three times before. It dawned on me this morning though that while a higher fat diet is essential for a baby... it can be fatal (or at least problematic) in adults. So what's the difference? The Apostle Peter writes:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...
1 Peter 2:2-3

A baby's body is designed to digest milk. In fact, a newborn can not ate anything else. Today we have baby formula, which is a great attempt at trying to duplicate breast-milk.

So how long should my baby drink ONLY milk?

Consider the words of the author to the Hebrews:

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. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14

Izzy just cut her first set of teeth and she is sporting them well. (Imagine Sunny from A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS... only darker.) Even though she has some serious toothage she can not handle a steak. Which is good. Did you know that she would actually be malnourished if she ate what you and I ate? It's true. Her body is not designed for it, it has yet to mature to the point be needing other foods.

Likewise, you and I would be in serious trouble if we ONLY ate what babies eat.

So what's the point?

Paul, in writing to a once disobedient church in Corinth, says:

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 Corinthians 3:1-2

Let me say this as frankly as I can:

If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus... you MUST move past the simple milk of the Word.

I have met Christians that have been babes in Christ for years (even decades!). There are also folks out there that are not content with staying babes and mature rather quickly.

The point is not to compare one another... the point is to grow. And rest assured that Gos is pleased when we mature in Christ.

Remember that all Scripture is profitable... even the milk.

Shalom.


(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)