"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Ephesians 2:1
In China many still believe that the dead eat as well as the living! Besides the memorial rites which have to be held during the "seventh moon" of each year for the departed, the ancestors must also be provided with feasts two or three days before the most important national festivals. Especially before the new year this is deemed important, for it is thought that then the dead return seeking earthly food. Consequently, a banquet, including much food and wine, is dutifully supplied and made ready by the eldest son for the refreshment of "honorable ancestors." We shake our heads sadly at such an absurd practice; and yet, with equal folly, we often try to feed the "spiritually dead" and then express surprise when there is no growth and little reaction.
It is necessary to see to it that our children receive doctrinal training regularly; in fact, it is highly commendable, but let us never suppose that this is in any way a substitute for earnestly and personally seeking to bring them to the foot of the cross for salvation. The implanting of the new life is a pre-requisite for their true growth in grace.
You too may attend church faithfully, go through a great deal of religious ritualism, and even read your Bible regularly, but unless you have experienced the "new birth," you are just trying to nourish a dead corpse!
Moody used to say, "We hear nowadays so much about 'culture.' Culture is all right when you have something to cultivate. If I should plant a watch, I shouldn't get any little watches, should I? Why? Because the seed of life is not there. But let me plant some peas or potatoes, and I will get a crop. Don't let any man or woman rest short of his being born of the Spirit of God. Don't cultivate a dead and corrupt thing. First, make sure you have the divine nature, then cultivate it." Yes, one has to be born into the family of God before he can "grow in grace."
"Bread For Each Day"
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