Daily Devotions
The Danger of a Meat-Free Spiritual Diet
Reading for October 3rd: Matthew 5-6
Weekly reading for September 27-October 3: Hebrews 6-9
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Hebrews 6:4-6
One intriguing thing I noticed recently in this passage is that not once, but twice the Hebrew writer uses the word "tasted." He describes Christians as those who have "tasted" the heavenly gift and those who have "tasted" the goodness of the word of God.
Why does he use this language? In the previous chapter he discussed their need to move beyond the milk to the meat of God's word. Perhaps he is concerned that they will lose their taste for Jesus.
He goes on to explain that the reason why it is "impossible" to restore such a one to repentance is because they are "crucifying once again the Son of God" and "holding him up to contempt." There is no value for Jesus anymore. They've "been there" and "done that" and are simply not interested anymore. The cross of Christ was once appealing to them, but now it does nothing for them. And if that describes one's attitude toward the Son of God, then what in the world would bring them back to repentance?
The implicit warning here is that if we don't go on to maturity by consuming more meat in our diet, going deeper into the Bible story to see all there is to see and know about Jesus and God's plan to save us, then our growth will be stunted and we will eventually become bored with Jesus. The gospel will not mean as much to us. And when we eventually fall away, it will be impossible to bring us back!
So, what does your spiritual diet look like? Are you hungry for more meat? Do you want to go deeper? Are you challenging yourself with more difficult passages with a view toward more radical, self-denying, transforming spiritual growth? Or are you content with a puny meat-free, super lightweight, little-to-no-effort-required diet?
Father, give us a hunger and and a thirst for righteousness!
