LightGrams
July 26, 2018
Volume 22, Number 26
Is this the beginning of a new place to have babies? Is it true that Chik-fil-A now offers delivery service?
There are traces of truth in both of the above statements. The story happened on July 20 in San Antonio, Texas when Falon Griffin began banging on the door of a Chik-fil-A. Late in her pregnancy, she was in urgent need to use the restaurant’s restroom, but the store was closed. The manager, Brenda Enriquez, showed compassion and opened the door. Soon it became obvious that her child would be born – soon.
The father, Robert, was thankfully present and was able to unwrap the umbilical cord from their new daughter’s neck. Gracelyn made a healthy entrance into the world. Chik-fil-A celebrated the event by granting Gracelyn free food for life at their restaurants, and a guaranteed job when she turns 14.
How many babies are awarded free food for life when they enter the world? Under normal circumstances they have that expectation from their families for their first few years, but not for life and not from strangers. That’s news worthy of a headline.
Ezekiel 16 tells a story to show how much God loved Israel. Israel was like an infant that was unwanted and cast out by her parents. God found her, still unwashed and covered in blood; her umbilical cord had not even been cut. “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’” (Ezekiel 16:6).
God described how this child was provided the best of everything, including food: “You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil” (Ezekiel 16:13). Here was a child who had first been rejected and set out to die. When adopted into God’s family, she received amazing benefits.
Ezekiel’s parable well describes our situation. Here’s how Paul described it in Galatians 4:4-7: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
What a change takes place when we are adopted into God’s family! Outside of that family we are slaves with misery and oppression our lot. In His family we are “heirs”, receiving all the benefits of one naturally born into the family. Why would anyone reject such an offer and forfeit so many benefits?!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2018, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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