ALONG CAME A BUTTERFLY:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Food is essential for life. Daily consumption of food is vital for sustaining life. Without it, we couldn’t grow. We get strength and vitality from food. Only eating satisfies our hunger and nourishes us.
At birth, the caterpillar simply eats. As it does, it grows. Later it makes a cocoon where it remains. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar goes through changes. In time, it emerges as a butterfly. The caterpillar has the potential to become a butterfly. But it must go through changes.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.
At spiritual birth, we received the life of God, which can transform us. But this transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifelong process.
Like the caterpillars, we need to eat spiritual food so we can grow and develop to full maturity. Just as we feed our physical bodies, our inner man long to be fed, nourished, and energized. Without regular nutrition, our inner man begins to suffer the consequences.
Jesus emphasized the importance of spiritual food when He was tempted by Satan:
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4.
Man is both physical and spiritual, which is why spiritual food is just as crucial as physical nourishment. Just as vibrant health and growth in the physical realm are critically dependent on a proper, well-balanced diet, so also our spiritual side is in critical need of proper spiritual food. This spiritual food is “every word that comes from the mouth of God” God gave us His Word to be our spiritual food. The words that proceed out of God’s mouth are food for us to eat.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16.
The Bible is the very breath of the living God; it is of life and can impart life to us. The Word alone satisfies our inner hunger for spiritual food. Just like Jeremiah, we also can take the Word of God as food and eat it to satisfy our spiritual hunger and cause our hearts to be joyful. A regular diet of God’s Word is sure to keep your soul well-nourished and growing.
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” 1 Peter 2:2.
Are you a new believer? How long have you been saved? Have you been feeding your inner man? What are you feeding your soul right now? Stop and think about that today.
When babies are born, they can only drink milk. In time though, they transition to solid food. When used together, milk and meat strengthen and mature us. When neglected, growth stops.
New Christians are often called "baby Christians." Baby Christians need spiritual milk. The word "milk" in the above quote (Greek gala, Strong's Concordance #G1051) means the basic, elemental teachings of true Christianity first learned by new believers. As we grow, we transition to solid food. But if we do not partake of the milk, we gain no nourishment.
The word "meat" comes from the Greek word Broma (Strong's #G1033) and means the more solid, complete and deeper spiritual doctrines of the Gospel. Are you ready for solid food? Nobody should stay as babies. We should grow. We need to grow into eating “solid food” and not only feed ourselves but feed others as well. We must move on to maturity.
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.
Where are you in your walk with God? Apostle Paul is here chastising his readers for their lack of maturity, although they have been saved for a while. He says that they should be ready to teach others, but instead, they have to be taught the fundamentals all over again. Jealousy and strife should have been put off with the “old man.” Yet, they were living with the “old man.” They don’t even seem to be that concerned that they aren’t growing!
We need to learn and grow. We need the living Word of God in our lives as we grow in Christ. We must feed on the Word daily and pray continually. The more we read and study, the more God’s Word transforms us, and the more we realize how much we need it.
Have you feasted on your daily bread today? How do we get spiritual nourishment?
Receive the Word with your ears. Commit yourself to go to church and listen to God’s Word being preached. Create time to listen to godly Messages.
Read the Word. Having a Bible in your house is not going to bless you unless you read it.
Research the Word. When studying the Word of God, keep a pencil in your hand. Write down what God teaches. Talk about what you’re discovering with other believers.
Meditate and reflect on the Word. Think about and chew on God’s Word.
Remember the Word. Commit God’s Word to memory.
Beloved, if you want to grow spiritually, nourish yourself with spiritual food. Crave God’s Word. The Word carries revelation, healing, power, and wisdom and when received into the heart, it imparts these life virtues. Start feeding on the Word to grow and flourish in life!
NO LONGER IN THE COCOON:
When a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, it flies. It never returns to the caterpillar stage.
After we have trusted in Jesus and begin growing after our new birth, we still never reach a state of complete perfection. Sin continues to stalk. We struggle with old temptations. Hence we must refuse the power of sin. By Jesus’ atoning death we can’t go back to our old ways. This means that in our new lives with Christ we should strive not to sin anymore. The devil will come with his temptations and his tribulations, but we’re called to not look back on our old lives, for the Lord has prepared something new for us as we take the new path.
“Forget the former things;
Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
And streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:18-19.
Are you ready for your new beginning in Christ? Then don’t return on your old path!
1. Examine your life regularly. 2 Corinthians 13:5.
2. If you find yourself drifting away, turn back immediately. Hebrews 3:12-13.
3. Come to God daily for forgiveness and cleansing.1 John 1:9.
4. Continue daily seeking the Lord with your whole heart.1 Chronicles 28:9.
5. Stay in the Word of God; keep studying and learning daily. Proverbs 4:13.
6. Stay in fellowship often with other believers.
7. You can’t make it alone as a Christian. We need the strength and prayers of other believers. Hebrews 10:25.
8. Stand firm in your faith. Matthew 10:22.
9. Persevere. 1 Timothy 4:15-17.
10. Run the race to win. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25; 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
11. Remember what God has done for you in the past. Hebrews 10:32, 35-39.
If you want to start a new relationship with God today, pray this prayer right now:
Heavenly Father, I come to You today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save me and He resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to Him today. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, you are now a child of God. The mistakes of your old life have passed away and He has made all things new. As new creations in Christ, we have the blessed privilege to soar in His power. So stand firm in the faith. Don’t crawl back inside the cocoon.
Keep praying and believing God. Keep eating the Word. Receive the nourishing supply of life from God’s Word. You are redeemed. You are set free. You are now a new creation. So spread your wings into their full, beautiful glory. It’s time to fly.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, help me to grow daily in the Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Thank God for giving us spiritual food. Pray that the Spirit will create a hunger in you to feed on His Word daily.
Shalom.
