Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Cooking or Baking (01/04/07)
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TITLE: An Apple Pie for Jesus | Previous Challenge Entry
By Melissa Ross
01/06/07 -
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We were not shopping for spotless lambs but the ‘forbidden fruit’ that is associated with the fall of man. After weaving through the market aisles we found ourselves in the produce department and filled a bag full of the golden-delicious variety.
“Can I put them in?” Jarrett asked, looking at the silver scale that always beckons him to investigate.
“Of course,” I replied with a smile.
He gently placed the chosen fruit in the bowl and looked to see the weight. After taking an apple out, Jarrett confidently declared, “Now there’s four pounds, Mama.”
“Perfect!”
We would bake the following day, Christmas Eve. Jarrett loves apple pie, and it was his idea to start a new Christmas tradition. Rather than put cookies out on Christmas Eve for “Santa,” we bake an apple pie for Jesus.
"When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire." Leviticus 2:1-3
While we are now sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10) and are no longer required to bring insufficient sin offerings to the altar, the Apostle Paul beseeches us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Our response to Christ’s work on the cross and in our lives should be a desire to serve Him as He assigns and anoints.
I am not a son of Aaron, but I am being built up a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). I now realize that I am not only baking a pie for my son, but for THE SON. The once tedious task of making the perfect crust is now a joy. The meticulous peeling and slicing of four-pounds of apples is not a chore, but an honor. The eyes of my understanding opened—the “sweet aroma” that exudes our “altar” is pleasing both to us and our LORD. While we enjoy the pleasure the pie brings to our senses, the LORD is pleased with the sacrificial service it embodies: hours spent preparing, baking, and cleaning ALL for His praise, honor, and glory in remembrance of His greatest gift to us—the salvation of our souls.
Our new Christmas tradition seems simple, but it is significant to our family. Each year we can celebrate that we were once “forbidden” but are now chosen and called His own special people. We can rest knowing our worthiness will not be measured, for He who is in us is worthy. And as we run with endurance the race that is set before us, we will look unto Jesus who will one day declare us “Perfect.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
And until that day comes, we will continue to offer our Christmas sacrifice to our LORD, from the heart and unto our bellies, for our LORD desires to share His inheritance with His children, both now and forever!
"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." Ephesians 5:2
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