The stench was almost enough to gag a buzzard on a gut wagon.”
–Dan Arnold (Death Is the Dealer)
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
–2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
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I’m not much of a pancake eater any more. Back in my younger days I enjoyed them more. In fact, once a year our church used to have a pancake breakfast where I was one of the cooks. In my day, I learned to flip pancakes. Just a little wrist movement, get the pancake in the air, and let it turn over catching it in the skillet. Pancakes with butter and real maple syrup are hard to beat. But eat a half-cooked cake, well, it’s downright disgusting. A person might eat raw cookie dough, but raw pancake dough?
Have you ever cut into a loaf of bread finding it doughy in the middle? Maybe you’ve had that experience with a piece of cake. On the outside it looks scrumptious, but it has not been cooked clean through, and in the center it is mushy. This reminds me of a terrible experience at the supper table. I was once served half-baked chicken. Now, I can do a world of hurt to a cooked chicken, but one that is crisp on the outside, but is raw and bleeding on the inside. Well, to be polite, it leaves much to be desired. How does one go about not eating it, when you’re the guest at a person’s house for dinner?
All of that is my prelude to something I read last week.
“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned. Aliens have devoured his strength, but he does not know it; yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he does not know it.”
–Hosea 7:8-9 (NKJV)
I like the way the NLT translates these verses:
“My people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, picking up their evil ways. Now they have become as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become. His arrogance testifies against him, yet he doesn’t return to the LORD his God or even try to find him.” (Hosea 7:8-10)
Yuck – a half-baked cake. One that is cooked on one side, but raw on the other. One that when flipped looks like it might be done, but a taste and you soon find otherwise. What had happened to Israel was that “instead of depending on the Lord for political stability, Israel formed alliances with surrounding nations.” (NKJV Study Bible) This was destructive, yet the people didn’t realize it for they now only ate half-baked cakes, they now became one. The NIV Study Bible says the cake was “burned on the bottom and raw on top.” Disgusting to say the least, yet they did not realize it in their arrogance.
Look at the news and you will quickly see that this nation, in its arrogance by flaunting those who spurn and mock the laws of God, are nothing but half-baked cakes. Did you happen to see some of the foolishness that took place at the White House in the name of tolerance and acceptance? It was vile and degrading. Shameful things that were applauded when they should be weeping before the Lord for forgiveness. The Lord has let them believe a lie, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…therefore God also gave them up…” (Romans 1:22, 24)
Half-baked–compromise and out-and-out lies were the characteristics of Israel, and now coming in the U.S. The church must not give in to this. The believer must be sure that the heat of the Holy Spirit is completely baking the food that they eat. Beware of fellowshipping with the half-baked–those who mock, scorn, and ridicule the Lord by their words and by their actions.
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
————————————-
I’m not much of a pancake eater any more. Back in my younger days I enjoyed them more. In fact, once a year our church used to have a pancake breakfast where I was one of the cooks. In my day, I learned to flip pancakes. Just a little wrist movement, get the pancake in the air, and let it turn over catching it in the skillet. Pancakes with butter and real maple syrup are hard to beat. But eat a half-cooked cake, well, it’s downright disgusting. A person might eat raw cookie dough, but raw pancake dough?
Have you ever cut into a loaf of bread finding it doughy in the middle? Maybe you’ve had that experience with a piece of cake. On the outside it looks scrumptious, but it has not been cooked clean through, and in the center it is mushy. This reminds me of a terrible experience at the supper table. I was once served half-baked chicken. Now, I can do a world of hurt to a cooked chicken, but one that is crisp on the outside, but is raw and bleeding on the inside. Well, to be polite, it leaves much to be desired. How does one go about not eating it, when you’re the guest at a person’s house for dinner?
All of that is my prelude to something I read last week.
“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned. Aliens have devoured his strength, but he does not know it; yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he does not know it.”
–Hosea 7:8-9 (NKJV)
I like the way the NLT translates these verses:
“My people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, picking up their evil ways. Now they have become as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become. His arrogance testifies against him, yet he doesn’t return to the LORD his God or even try to find him.” (Hosea 7:8-10)
Yuck – a half-baked cake. One that is cooked on one side, but raw on the other. One that when flipped looks like it might be done, but a taste and you soon find otherwise. What had happened to Israel was that “instead of depending on the Lord for political stability, Israel formed alliances with surrounding nations.” (NKJV Study Bible) This was destructive, yet the people didn’t realize it for they now only ate half-baked cakes, they now became one. The NIV Study Bible says the cake was “burned on the bottom and raw on top.” Disgusting to say the least, yet they did not realize it in their arrogance.
Look at the news and you will quickly see that this nation, in its arrogance by flaunting those who spurn and mock the laws of God, are nothing but half-baked cakes. Did you happen to see some of the foolishness that took place at the White House in the name of tolerance and acceptance? It was vile and degrading. Shameful things that were applauded when they should be weeping before the Lord for forgiveness. The Lord has let them believe a lie, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…therefore God also gave them up…” (Romans 1:22, 24)
Half-baked–compromise and out-and-out lies were the characteristics of Israel, and now coming in the U.S. The church must not give in to this. The believer must be sure that the heat of the Holy Spirit is completely baking the food that they eat. Beware of fellowshipping with the half-baked–those who mock, scorn, and ridicule the Lord by their words and by their actions.
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”