Bottle Suckers

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Heb 5:14 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.

As I mounted the pulpit yesterday I was reminded once again that we preach to a mixed multitude of hearers. Some have never heard what we proclaim from the Word. To them it is all fresh and new. They will either develop a hunger for the Gospel or turn a deaf ear to it. At the other end of the spiritual spectrum we have the saint who has received the Word of truth and yet desires to hear it again and again. Seems they never get enough of the “old, old story.” I understand and have respect for both these groups. Some men are just not interested in any way by spiritual matters. Some are desirous to know God but never thought they could. Still others, even though veteran saints, thrive on the soul nourishing strong meat of the Word.

What puzzles me are those who never grow, never increase in their spirit. To use a secular phrase, “they just don’t get it!” They are “bottle-sucking” spiritual babies. They come, they hear, it goes in one ear and out the other. They never apply the Word to their life. They struggle with the most simple of life’s matters. Instead of being prayer warriors, they are always on the prayer list. The flesh wins out in their daily existence. And when another brother in Christ tries to help them and bolster them up, they stand on wobbly legs for a short time then fall to the ground like a new born.

Please understand, dear reader, I am not dis-compassionate of these weak brethren. And I know they shall always be with us. Jesus called them weak in spirit. I believe we must love them, encourage them, help them in any way we possibly can. It is just a shame that they will never join the work force and help in the work of the ministry. O, that they would grow some teeth.