Cutting Spiritual Teeth.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on  this SoundCloud link.

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
I Corinthians 3:1-3 English Standard Version

Our dog, Rizzo, is still a puppy. His adult teeth are coming in, so he likes to chew – especially on plastic bottles. Who needs to spend money on toys or raw hides, when you can use household items like peanut butter containers and water bottles instead?

His teething can be quite annoying to him, so Rizzo also sometimes bites on windowsills, chair legs, or anything that might look remotely soothing. Needless to say, we are ready for this phase to be over, but we do try to accommodate his gnawing tendencies by offering more appropriate items. He is young, and puppies need puppy love.

When Paul spoke to the church in Corinth, he mentions that when they were young in the faith, he fed them with spiritual milk instead of solid food because they were not ready for a more intense understanding of the faith. Just as you would not throw new attendees at your church into a Greek or Aramaic immersion session, but rather nourish them with the basic Gospel of salvation, Paul did not want the early church to get discouraged and become overwhelmed.

Paul was frustrated by the infighting and division that sprung up within the Corinthian church. He knew that they were not yet ready for a deeper religious doctrine because they were still acting like children.

During this period of waiting for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, let us examine ourselves. Are we in the teething phase of our spirituality? Are we divided and full of strife in our own lives?

I pray today for the peace, forgiveness and understanding that can only come from Christ.

Photo and Text Copyright: Darcia Kunkel