"Full-Grown in Powers of Understanding"

A spiritual babe is easily "tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error."  Paul thus urged:  "Let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ." (Ephesians 4:14, 15)  How does one do so?  Hebrews 5:14 says: "Solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perspective powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong." 

Note that mature people have their perceptive powers trained through use, or experience in apply Bible principles. Obviously, then, one does not become mature overnight; it takes time to grow up spiritually. Even so, you can do much to facilitate your spiritual growth by personal study-especially of the deeper things of God's Word.  In recent times The Watchtower has discussed many deep subjects. Mature ones do not shy away from such articles because they contain "some things hard to understand." (2 Peter 3:16) Rather, they eagerly devour such solid food! 

Next time: Zealous Preachers and Teachers

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000