Growing into Perfection

Artificially manufactured baby food has been around as long as humans. In the 17th to 19th centuries, “pap” was made by soaking bread in milk or water and then poured or blown into the baby’s mouth from a “pap boat.” In the mid-1800s, several European companies manufactured baby food, including the Swiss merchant Henri Nestle, who sold Nestle’s Milk Food in the United States and other countries. In America, meat, fruit, and vegetable-based commercial baby food began to be marketed in the 1920s, with Clapp’s, Gerber, and Beech-Nut becoming popular. One of the more interesting early flavors marketed by Gerber was liver soup.

In our Christian experience, we need to move beyond the soft spiritual food of babyhood. Part of perfecting our characters as God’s children and preparing for our future in heaven is to grow past the basic truths, grasp the deep lessons our heavenly Father wants us to understand, and develop holy characters. It’s His purpose “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine … but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:14, 15).

God wants us to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” and to be “fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:9, 10). Of course, none of us can produce this kind of spiritual maturity within ourselves; it can only be realized when we have Christ living daily within our hearts.

The process of sanctification is often a struggle as we learn to yield our will to Him and resist temptations. But He has promised to strengthen us. Today, He assures you that He is “able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

Apply It:

What solid spiritual food are you consuming today?

Dig Deeper:

Hebrews 6:1; Philippians 1:9–11; Philippians 2:12, 13

Key Bible Texts

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Hebrews 5:13 KJV)