"The Catskinner"

"The Catskinner"     

                                      

   (****DISCLAIMER**** No animals were harmed during the production of this essay.)

   

  You've heard the saying: "There's more than one way to skin a cat."

   Now for all you fans of felines out there, I assure you that I have no intention to separate any cat from its hide.  I'm well aware that God made cats, albeit for reasons of which He has not chosen to inform me (one possibility might be to keep the rodent population under control.  Cats eat those things, you know).  So, I abide by the old "live and let live" philosophy when it comes to cats (although I'm not at all sure they share my sentiment).

   Back to the axiom.  "There's more than one way to ski…", well, you know!  This simply means that there is usually more than one way to do things, quite often by unexpected alternatives.  This especially holds true regarding the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways" declared the Lord to Israel long ago (Isaiah 55:8).  The truth hasn't changed, and thus we must expect the unexpected as God works in our lives and answers our prayers.  Indeed, Israel anticipated her Messiah to appear as a Supreme Sovereign to fulfill God's promises, but He rather came in His first advent as a Suffering Servant.  "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).  The same principle often holds true in our lives.  The Lord administers some of His mightiest works on our behalf in ways we will miss if we do not expect the unexpected.  "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

    I don't actually know how many ways there are to skin a cat.  Don't want to know.  Again, I harbor no ill will against such creatures, and wish only the best for them (as long as they don't get too close and make me sneeze!).  I do know that in His infinite wisdom, our Lord possesses many ways and means whereby He fulfills His purposes in our lives.   Many of these workings will challenge our understandings and sensibilities.  Remembering that God works accordingly helps to prepare us for faith and faithfulness when He acts in a way we've never considered.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

(Romans 11:33)

Weekly Memory Verse

   He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

(Romans 8:32)