A baby will put anything in its mouth. Every parent has endured that stage of infancy, constantly fishing anything and everything from little baby’s mouth: marbles, coins, rocks, sand, wood chips, food on the floor, and many things that are just totally disgusting.

A baby does what is instinctive, and we also do instinctively what is best for our child, protecting them from the harm of putting the wrong things in their mouths. This, of course, extends to their diets. A child is given nourishing breast milk to begin with. Then, it progresses to a soft food diet. As they are able and baby teeth come in, they progress further to a diet of solid food. However, the attentive mother is always vigilant about what goes into the baby’s mouth, not just avoiding sand and gravel but making sure the food is healthy and nutritious.

We are speaking of the Christian diet, for the writer of Hebrews said, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14).

To move beyond spiritual infancy, we must move on to solid food. Solid food is good, nutritional food that leads to spiritual maturity. In spiritual growth, this solid food is God’s Word. But God’s Word must be read, interpreted, and taught correctly. Our diet must be healthy in doctrine, true to the “faith once delivered.” Titus 2:1 reads, “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound (healthy) doctrine.“

As we take in the truth of God’s Word, we are to obey it and live by it as the guide for life. When we do, we will grow as Christians. Sometimes, we have spurts of growth. Just like a gangly teenager who is continually wearing high-water jeans because his legs are growing so quickly, Christians often have times of accelerated growth. Be thankful for these times because they are invigorating and true evidence of God’s Spirit using his Word in our lives. But don’t get used to them because they come and go. Remember that God is working during dry times as well. When God seems distant, and we don’t see any measurable spiritual growth, we must be faithful to press on toward maturity in faithfulness to the simple disciplines of the faith: prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship, and service. “There is no other way than to trust and obey.”

Just as it takes time for a baby to grow into an adult, it takes time for a baby Christian to mature into Christ-likeness. A nutritional, spiritual diet is essential, just as nutritional food is essential for human growth. But be patient. We often want immediate results because our culture is built on short-term expectations. But you don’t expect to feel better immediately after taking your daily vitamins. When you adopt a new diet, you do not expect to lose 20 pounds after the first meal. These things take time, and our spiritual growth is no different. When we adopt a consistent diet of God’s Word and exercise it by practice, in time, we will see perceptible growth.

However, we must also be aware of what a good friend of mine calls “adolescent arrogance.” This refers to the time in Christian growth when you know just enough to be dangerous. And you know just enough to think you know it all! This is a challenging stage, for many get stuck in it, as it is actually a stage of spiritual infancy. It is a time of judgmentalism, legalism, pride, and stubbornness. If you find yourself in this stage, then do some soul-searching. Daily repentance of sin is the slayer of pride; without humility, we will not grow. Let God’s Word convict you of arrogance, anger, and a critical spirit. Feed daily on the basics, mastering them before you move on. “Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2).

We must also beware of false teaching, for it is the opposite of healthy doctrine. There is a lot of it out there, and it is easily accessible for a baby to ingest. There are a myriad of harmful Christian books, online sermons, and podcasts that are just a click away. One must practice discernment by applying God’s Word to one’s life. Then, one must learn to discern between good and evil and between what is good food and what is not.

Don’t be like a spiritual infant who will put anything into his mouth. Seek advice from those who are mature about books, websites, authors, and podcasts. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was dead serious when he said, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Be careful what goes into your heart.