Spiritual food

We believers have a spiritual food that is the Word of God, which is written in 66 books, and we must eat from that food every day in order to know God. This food is not optional; it is the written revelation of the Almighty, preserved so that every believer who belongs to the body of Christ may grow in holiness, wisdom, and spiritual maturity. There is no substitute for the Word of God, no food that can replace it, and no better method for knowing the Lord. Without the Scriptures, our spirit weakens, our discernment diminishes, and our walk with Christ becomes unstable.

The author of Hebrews dedicates several verses to warn his readers about the danger of apostasy. In those days, as in ours, there were evil and dishonest men who distorted the gospel for their own convenience. Their teachings confused and deceived many. But the important thing to understand is that those who were deceived were vulnerable precisely because they lacked spiritual nourishment. Without the proper diet of God’s Word, their hearts were easily swayed, their minds were weak, and they could not distinguish truth from error.

This is why the Bible makes a distinction between spiritual infancy and spiritual maturity:

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 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.

Hebrews 5:13-14

These verses are a direct and loving rebuke to the church that received this letter. They had been believers for a long time, yet they still needed to be taught basic principles. Instead of being teachers of the Word, they remained as children who could only drink milk. They were spiritually stagnant because they had not exercised themselves in the Scriptures. The Word had not become their daily bread, and therefore they lacked discernment.

Beloved brethren, we must not allow this to happen to us. We must not spend years under the grace of Christ and still remain people who do not fully know the foundational truths of the faith. Spiritual immaturity is a choice when the Word of God is available to us. We should strive diligently, study intentionally, and dedicate time alone with God to meditate on His Word. Our growth depends on our commitment to Scripture.

When we open our Bibles, we are not simply reading ancient writings—we are listening to the very voice of God. These pages were inspired by the Holy Spirit and preserved through generations so that today you and I can feed our souls. Strong meat belongs to those who persevere, who train their spiritual senses, and who do not settle for superficial knowledge. As Hebrews says, maturity comes “by reason of use,” meaning by constant practice, reading, meditation, and obedience.

Studying the Word of God assures us solid food. It strengthens our faith and prevents us from being deceived by the tricks of the enemy or by vain men who present teachings that are not the true gospel. Many false doctrines prosper today because believers neglect the Scriptures. But a believer who knows the Word cannot be easily shaken—he stands firm like a tree planted by streams of water.

The more time we spend with God in His Word, the clearer our spiritual vision becomes. We begin to discern both good and evil; we develop godly wisdom; we recognize false teachings before they even finish being spoken. The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to shape our character, correct our errors, and strengthen our walk with Christ.

Therefore, let us commit ourselves daily to this spiritual discipline. Let us not neglect the divine food given to us. Let us grow from milk to strong meat, from infancy to maturity, from weakness to discernment. The Word of God is life, strength, and nourishment for our souls. May we treasure it, study it, and live it every day.