Birthday Cake

The cutting of the birthday cake of our four year old neighbor was a big occasion, and Jack and I were happy to be invited to the ceremony. Michelle, the birthday girl, sat in a high chair while the rest of us sat around her at the dining room table. The cake was decorated with gum balls and candies and flowers made of icing. When Michelle blew out the candles , a chorus from her older brother, Jeffrey and sister, Lindy, went up, “Michelle, can I have a gum ball?” asked Jeffrey; “Michelle, can I have a rose?” from Lindy, and the requests didn’t stop there. “Yes”, said Michelle, “Yes”, over, and over again until the decorations were nearly depleted. She seemed delighted to say “yes”, and never once complained that they were taking all the “good” parts from her cake. I was impressed at her unassuming graciousness. Nothing was denied. Everything was cheerfully handed over.

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No”. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ. . . was not “Yes” and “No, ” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20)

As extraordinary as a little four year old’s generosity was, the words of St. Paul express an almost unknown level of graciousness toward all humanity, “As surely as God is faithful.” This faithfulness is limitless, and Jesus describes it in several passages: Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move. (Matthew 17:20-21)

The faith that Jesus expressed to his disciples was not a faith in an empty void but a faith in the person of the Christ. Jesus told those who asked about the works that God requires: The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent. ( John 6:28)

This is the childlike belief that Jesus extols in Matthew, Luke, and Mark: He said to them (the disciples) “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

If a four year old child can be free with her birthday cake, Is it possible that our God is not true to His promises?

Love in Him,

Prue