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There's a lot of fellowship going on around the world, people corresponding, engaging in banter, immersed in discussion, ... or often in dispute, but I have been asking myself how nourishing some of this is. The Hebrews, and particularly those still in bondage to Judaism, were being required to understand about Jesus being our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, but in the time the epistle to the Hebrews was written, this truth was proving difficult for them to digest. It is apparent they were complaining about the preaching of things they were unfamiliar with, preferring just the rudiments or first principles, and all this talk of priests and their function past, present, and future in relation to this mysterious Jesus Christ was too demanding on them. Heb 5:5-14 (5) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you. (6) As he said also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (7) Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (10) Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (11) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that uses milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Even today, the grip of Judaism causes its adherents to be dull of hearing when the gospel is preached. I find it interesting that in the Bible the Greek words "stereos" and "stereoo" are translated "strong", "strength", and "established" (in the faith), hence the reference to steroids in the title of this thread. Strongs G4731 στερεός stereos ster-eh-os' From G2476; stiff, that is, solid, stable (literally or figuratively): - stedfast, strong, sure. Total KJV occurrences: 4 Strongs G4732 στερεόω stereoō ster-eh-o'-o From G4731; to solidify, that is, confirm (literally or figuratively): - establish, receive strength, make strong. Total KJV occurrences: 3 Personally, I need to be strengthened daily by the Word of God, and thoroughly enjoy the strong meat of the Word. (I hope to get some feedback on this... ? ? ?)

Hungry for spiritual food. A weekly sermon not enough. Easy to forget what the preacher said. Still hungry. Reading Christian book after Christian book. All day with Bible open again. Years ago looking up every single chain reference manually. So glad to get computers doing it now. Feeding on the Word of God. Good Shepherd leading His sheep to green pastures. They lie down and ruminate after grazing. Still waters easy to drink from. Why are some sheep malnourished? Maybe they have an eating disorder. Why are some sheep not healthy? Maybe they feed on the wrong food. Maybe they have no stomach for the Word Of God and can't digest strong meat. Some sheep are too busy to feed on the words of life, no, not now they say, and some have become fed up because they don't like the menu, and because bad shepherds have trampled down the pasture where they habitually gather. Happy sheep are happily feeding on God's Word and helping each other to stay healthy. Go where the good food is they keep saying. Are you feeding well they keep asking. Unhappy sheep are standing around in confusion. We don't know how to feed on the Word of God they lamb-ment. Some of them have been put off feeding on God's Word at a young age. What boring food they say. It doesn't taste at all pleasant they say. But once those hunger pains start to bite the Word of God doesn't seem so bad and the unhappy sheep are not so unhappy and the Shepherd keeps leading them to pastures that are sweeter and sweeter by the day. We can feed forever on good food now these happy sheep are saying. The Shepherd is glad when His flock are happily feeding on the food He provides. In a sense... He is the food!