It is always a joy to listen to babies who babble. Parents enjoy children’s expressions. They become concerned if the child does not talk when they turn three years old. That which was joy brings fear as the child grows up. That is exactly what the writer of Epistle of Hebrews wrote. The spiritual maturity of believers was inadequate. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Unskilled: Without the discipline of studying and meditating on the Word, they lack the skill in the word of righteousness. (Psalms 1:1-3) It is wonderful to have the ultimate author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit when anyone reads the Bible with an open mind and faith. However, many read the Bible as a matter of duty, ritual, or literature, to develop language skills and mandatory reading for assignments.
Lack of discernment: Paul lists discernment as a gift of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:10) Without the help of the Holy Spirit it is impossible to understand the Scripture. Satan also could quote the Scriptures and tempt a person as Satan did to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:5-7)
Untrained: A trainer can instruct, guide, motivate, encourage, remind, and model. However, it is up to the trainee to get trained by active, enthusiastic, and eager participation. If a believer goes through spiritual activities without involvement, will remain spiritually untrained.
Lack of constant practice: Globally acclaimed sports personnel would be seen in the public eyes, only for a few minutes or hours. Perhaps for every minute they appear in public, they invest fifteen to thirty days in preparation. Those who fail to practice in private will fail in public.
Am I spiritually skilled in understanding the Bible?