1 Corinthians 3:2
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
This is one of the most revealing verses in this letter about the spiritual condition of the Corinthian Christians. It also reveals a lot about Paul’s strategy for discipleship and church growth. The next verse will give the reason for his assessment. He is talking about the nourishment of babies as compared to those who have been weaned and are growing up with more independence: milk versus meat. Milk is easy to swallow and digest. It is simple, life-sustaining nutrition. But there comes a point when a young child begins to eat other kinds of food. We are designed physically to grow up. In the same way, as Christians we are meant to mature. God’s plan is not for us to remain as immature infants. The problem with infants is that they are weak and vulnerable. They are easily persuaded. They are easily pulled into the ways of the world. If we are maturing by taking on the mind of Christ, we will become increasingly uncomfortable with the world. We are following a different paradigm. We are developing a different world-view. We see ourselves and others differently. We act, speak, and think differently. God has great plans for each of us that involve new challenges and lessons. We cannot experience all that God has for us if we stay babies.
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