Half Baked Cake!

As I read Hosea the words in the verse above jumped out of the page! What an interesting turn of phrase. Other versions refer to ‘a cake not turned’. It’s certainly intended as a scathing assessment of Israel by God Himself. It caused me to mull this phrase over and to ask myself if I’m like this.

In the natural realm, a half-baked cake is good for nothing. It’s neither cooked nor uncooked. It would taste awful, and hint at what might have been if the process had been allowed to continue. For some reason the cooking process was terminated too early, and it’s now worthless and fit only for the dustbin.

What about in the spiritual realm? - Because that’s clearly why Holy Spirit led Hosea to write this. A beautiful cake’s a credit to the baker and a blessing to all who partake of it. God, the Master Baker, has provided all the ingredients for us to be a blessing to others and a reflection of His glory. Those ingredients will vary from person to person (each cake can be different in some way). I see them as the fruits of the Spirit, blended in with our own personality and character. Into the mixing God ensures Holy Spirit will provide all that’s necessary for us to rise, expand and develop.

The final stage is the baking. We’re no microwave cakes! Each of us takes a time that only the Master Baker knows. The oven of testing, trial and temptation provides the heat that causes us to develop. But we can stop that process. We can pull away from God. We can mix with the world and become lukewarm. In the process we fail to develop and become good for nothing.

The question for each of us is, “Have I mingled with the world?” Am I a follower of Christ on Sundays, but live the rest of the week as I please? - Indistinguishable from the world? If so, then I might think I’m OK, and even look alright, but in reality I’m good for nothing; neither one thing nor the other. The good news is that we can change! Unlike a half-baked cake we can repent, draw near to God and allow Him to continue and complete His work in us. We can allow our lives to give glory to the Master Baker and be a blessing to all who partake of us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m so sorry if I’ve become a half-baked cake. Your words are strong and challenging. But You say them in love because You want to complete all that You’ve planned in my life. Where I’ve found myself mixing the world’s lifestyle and values with my Christian life I choose to repent and turn back to You. I ask You to continue Your work of grace in my life, so I might give glory to You, and be a blessing to others. Amen.