Imagine one family feeding their children cake every day. You look at the table and they see their slice of cake with the place setting perfectly set. The fork and knife are all set and ready at their fingertips and you expect them to just sit and enjoy what others may not have the opportunity to have.
Now imagine another family that also feeds their children cake. This family however, doesn't have nice silverware or even a table. They just tell the children where the cake is, but don't really give directions how to eat it or even enjoy it because they don't know how to either. The children know that the cake is in the refrigerator but due to lack of direction, they eat it with their hands as best as they can.
Now I'm sure most readers are wondering what cake has to do with the picture, or what point I'm trying to make. Frank and I were talking yesterday about people born and raised in Christian families, and those raised without the benefit of a Christian home. No matter where we are born or how we are raised, we all ultimately make a choice about what we are going to believe. Those born in Christian homes (the family who was taught to eat cake with silverware) know they way they are supposed to walk. Still, it will be their choice whether they want to be saved. Those born without the Christian influence (the family that eats cake with their hands) will need to be taught how to do things properly, the true way to salvation. We who eat cake with a fork can't look down in scorn at those who eat cake with their hands. If they haven't been taught to eat cake with utensils, how can we expect them to do it right?
This was Frank's analogy, and I really enjoyed it. He should really be a preacher ~ at least to my thinking. All comments would greatly be appreciated.
Oh yes, and Abby's (pictured above with Frank) is being taught to eat cake with a fork (figuratively, in keeping with the analogy). I'm not sure that's how she prefers it...in real life. ;)
5 comments:
Well, the original analogy was used in reference of a conversation I had with a co-worker over lunch when I invited her and her family to church. She told me of her mixed feelings and events she faced in church. This reminded me about the discontent I have with a lot of Christians now days and how the church doors aren’t as wide open as they should be. The fact that they forget how hard it was in the beginning; how “good” of a Christian they consider themselves to be, without remembering the path they walked to get where they are. They forget that being a Christian is an ever evolving self process, and in God we are ever-growing from one moment to the next. They forget how easy it is in a Christian household to be less likely to fail when everyone around is supporting them. Can you imagine a life where the ones you love don’t support you? This is why we must extend our hands further and hold them out longer for ones who don’t have this benefit. As God holds his hands out for us, we must do for others. We all must humble ourselves as we did in the beginning. Christians are supposed to be the best of us all, we set the pace, Are we living up to it? Or is the popular consensus better than doing the right thing. Trust me when I say; there was nothing popular about 3 Nails & a Thorne Crown.
A big hearty A M E N!! To this post.
I agree with Frank in that we are every growing in Christ -
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
But growing daily in the Lord is needed it should not be taken for granted and should glorify our Saviour-
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
We are all, bought with a price ... ALL OF US ... whether you accept the gift of salvation or not, we are none better than another in God's eyes and God loves us all, but salvation through Christ is paramount to be united with Him for eternity.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
And I also agree that we need to set pride, arrogance, and anger aside and forgive and move on from those things that would hinder our testimony for Christ ... and our very own walk with Christ by assuming that we are better than another "cake eating family" (in keeping with the analogy that is)
If we could only love one another that in itself would be one of the best examples of a "christian"
After all is it not the 2nd greatest commandment from the lips of our Saviour Christ!
Thank you for this post it points out a very present truth to all who read (including myself!)
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
PS ... there's my lil abby wabby, she is just gorgeous .. but ... alas I AM STILL SOOO BIAS!!! LOL!!
Happy Birthday Deborah! Hope you have an awesome 20th year...prayin' for ya'll
Oh my word! I'm sorry! I didn't realize your birthday had come up! HAPPY B-DAY! Hope you had a great one!
Thanks for the comment on my new blog! I was surprised and pleased to see it! :D In answer to your question, the poem was inspired by Alesya - my friend who died. It has almost been a year and in some ways it seems forever ago - in others, just yesterday! It's so crazy! Anyways. Glad you liked the blog! Thanks for stopping by! Hope to hear from you again soon!
((HUGS))
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