“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
One of the greatest blessings that arrives the moment after we are born-again is that we have the entire Word of God memorized, we not only know every commandment by heart, but we are able to adhere to them perfectly without fault. We no longer seek the pleasures of sin, temptations from our adversary have no effect on us, forgiveness is second nature, and love abounds from us towards all we meet.
If you ever meet anyone who believes what you just read there, leave their presence immediately, for they are beyond deceived.
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1st Peter 1:16)
No one questions why a two-year-old child is not out in the workforce earning a living. Attempting to teach a very small child quantum mechanics or how to operate large machinery would be foolishness. The one who has recently been born-again is a new creature in Christ, and even milk takes time to digest my friends.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2nd Cor. 5:17)
Consider that truth, that everything is now new, not in the terminology that it is bright and shiny, but that they are all completely foreign to us in that moment.
Those who have a desire to learn, who thirst and hunger for the knowledge of the Most High must begin at the beginning; even too much milk at once can make one ill. Part of the patience of the saints my friends is understanding that newborn babes can only assimilate so much at once, once a truth of the Scriptures is revealed to them, and they seem to have a grasp upon it, they must be given time to digest it, to contemplate it at length before moving on to other truths.
Here, in some cases, is where some teachers miss the mark, so to speak, for they look at the classwork, if you will, in a linear form bound by time. Think here on the Sunday school class or the midweek Bible study, where the teacher has a prepared text and it must be completed in their mind in the time allotted, where everyone in the group is expected to keep up.
The study of the Word of God is not homework or classroom work, it is life work, and the wise teacher will be able to recognize the one who has determined to set their face like a flint to seek the face of God.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
We are, in a sense, training people to take our place, and if we do not pray fervently for them, if we do not use great caution and allow them, to a point, to take their time and learn how to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to them, if we attempt to rush them, they may be as some of the Galatians.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Gal. 1:6)
But at the same time, they must understand that much is expected of them, contemplation of the Word of God is one thing my friends, dallying on the path and continuing to seek for the pleasures and security of this world is quite another thing.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20)
Expect green leaves, then blossoms before you expect much fruit, but recall Luke 13:8 in their training.
“And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:”
Those whom the Almighty has chosen to be masters are always searching for the ones the Lord has also chosen to be masters as well, while understanding and assisting all who have been born-again to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and how to use the gifts they have been blessed with for His glory.
“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.” (Heb. 5:14)
Start slowly, be patient, but do not dawdle, move from the milk to those full course meals.
