We read Hebrews 5-9 last time and I had highlighted 5:14 to reflect on, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

I’ve been meditating still, on how life with Jesus is a journey of becoming what we’ve become—that we have become a new person in Jesus, and are living to become what that is. What I’ve been thinking about is the language that the biblical authors often chose to use in expressing this life journey: walking, practicing, working, training, continuing, pursuing, striving, even fighting.

It’s not a tranquil state of streaming and flowing along, where things just fit together so nice and neatly. That’s how I want it to happen. I naturally have to struggle against that perspective.

Life, actually, is quite the opposite of that, regardless of your meta-worldview, isn’t it?

Strength develops from training through weakness.
Patience forms by bearing annoyances.
Love grows with intentional attention.
Humility reflects on our limitations.
Courage is birthed by facing fear.
Determination is fed by challenges.

The power of discernment—the power to choose well—comes through training, through constant practice of choosing good over evil, right over wrong, Jesus over sin, life over death, moment by moment in a lifetime of moments.

Because, I want to actually become what I have become; what God says I’ve become.