Lot's of Good comments here, thank you all for participating. Most have commented on "What is meat", I would like to turn the focus to the second part of my question....
"What does the Meat of the Word mean to you and
how does one begin to digest that meat?"
Is there a certain realization or experience that moves us from Milk to meat? A condition in mankind that is prone to division that must be overcome? If so explain.
Myself an
@marks have touched on this a bit in our discussion, particularly the condition of mankind that is prone to division, but we have not fully gotten into what that experience or moment was like when each of us moved from milk to meat....if you know what I am asking?
So the Bible says you should love your enemies. Do good to those that are mean to you.
I can read it. I can know it. But now I have to put that into practice.
I have to DO it.
In my own personal experience...
I have an 86 year old father who has a 78 year old girlfriend. They been together for over 20 years. I have just come on the scene that last 5 years, after having been hmm.. awol the last 20 busy with my own life.
Now she is very possesive. But my dad is going through some medical issues at this time and he needs to stay with me probably for a good while.
I am living in a mobile home he doesn't use because he has been living with her at her house. Now her house is pretty crowded. She does crafts, and has a tendency to be a hoarder (putting it mildly) and he can't get around her place and walk and exercise as he needs to.
So he has decided to come stay with me.
For the last 5 years that I have been "in the picture" , it has been pretty intense between me and his girl. She doesn't like me, at all.
When I talk she rolls her eyes and curses under her breath, exasperated that I dare even open my mouth.
I'm not the type that enjoys confrontation to begin with, BUT SOMETIMES!!!
And always, just as I'm about to come back with some smart alec remark, I think to myself.. what is the right way to deal with this?
And it always comes back to: Love overcomes Hate.
And the more I put into practice the actual forgiving as the occurance is happening, those feelings of resenfulness or hurt get less and less.
Instead of reacting in the moment, I just focus on trying to make a bad situatioin better. Sometimes it's just being silent and letting the moment pass. Other times it's trying to gently reason without getting upset or impatient.
I've never been one to hold a grudge, but I usually have a tendency to say what's on my mind. And sometimes I can say things not very nice.
In the midst of being crucified and dying on the cross. After having been subjected to torture and humiliation,
Jesus could have lashed out and said, Father destroy them. There is no good in them.
But he didn't.
He asked His Father to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing.
To me, this is moving from the milk to the meat.
Not only knowing what the will of God is, But performing it as well.
My Meat is to DO the Will of Him that sent me.
What is God's will?
Just my thoughts..
Hugs