Meat represents an intermediate level of scriptural comprehension. Deep ideas are frequently concealed in parables.
Christians who are deeply rooted in the milk doctrines and live in obedience are the target audience for the meat of the Word. Meat is not a diet appropriate for infants; it is the spiritual food required to grow up and apply the Bible’s teachings to daily life.
Paul stated, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11. In the same manner that a kid develops physically, those who are growing in their faith require the meat of the Word to identify false teachings and support themselves throughout difficult times. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
Scripture meditation and in-depth study are necessary for feasting on the meat. Finding and assimilating these deep parts of Scripture requires time and effort because the deep truths of God are frequently concealed in parables and allegories. A devoted follower of Jesus will take great pleasure in discovering God’s treasures, and the savoury meat of the Word will strengthen and nourish his entire being.
Regarding wisdom, the Bible says, “Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ( Pro 2:4-6). If the Word of God is wisdom itself, then we will spend more time seeking it. Strong meat is a profound level of biblical awareness that is attained via assiduous study of the Word and comprehended (assimilated) via spiritual struggles and real-life trials. Some long-time churchgoers are still on the milk, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:7). This type of maturity is not always the product of years. However, because they have eaten the strong meat and followed the instruction to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15), some young disciples are more than ready to teach (see I Timothy 4:12).
Jesus fed His inner man with robust meat during His earthly service. He prayed for hours before sunrise, studied the Bible, and put up with criticism and pain. Consequently, however, He remained fully sensitive to the will of the Father. According to John 4:32–34, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of … My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Jesus’ spiritual meat was, in fact, connection with His Heavenly Father. As Jesus did, followers of Jesus who reach spiritual maturity will find sustenance in the robust meat of the Word.
While the meat of the Word (deeper truth) aids in a Christian’s development to spiritual maturity, the milk of the Word (basic doctrine) is essential for a new Christian to establish a solid foundation of biblical understanding. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” Paul said to his spiritual son Timothy. According to II Timothy 3:15–17, “all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Unfortunately, even after years of hearing the Word, many babies in Christ get fat and lethargic on the milk because they rely on others to provide them with a complete spiritual diet. These immature Christians run the risk of straying and falling prey to the enemy because they neglect to examine the Scriptures for themselves. For this reason, followers of Christ must act upon the Word rather than only hear it (see James 1:22).
Fathers (like Paul in I Corinthians 4:15), brothers (like Barnabas in Acts 15:25), and sons (like Timothy in I Timothy 1:2) make up the Body of Christ today, just as it did in the days of the New Testament church. When the fathers feed the flock of God with the pure Word, the family of God flourishes, the younger ones mature, and the older ones remain steadfast.
