Skin a Cat
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
It’s one of those odd saying we all have used at some point, but no one really knows where it comes from. We can trace it back to legal documents from 1832, and Mark twain referenced the “well known proverb” in 1889, but the origins are truly a mystery. Some have posited it mean to skin a catfish. Others have pointed out that there was a time cat was used as a lining in fur coats. Interestingly there is an even earlier version appears as far back as 1678, in the second edition of John Ray’s collection of English proverbs, in which he gives it as “there are more ways to kill a dog than hanging”.
Regardless of the origins of the phrase we all know what it means. The problem you are facing has more than one way to solve the problem. There is more than one solution. Get creative, stop and think, and find a way. Most of the time this is true.
But not in a spiritual sense. John writes in the 14th chapter, starting at verse 5
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
There is only one way to approach the Father. You can’t skin the cat any other way.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13 and 14
With all of that being said it might be discouraging to know the way is not of your making. But the good news is that God has provided that way for you. You didn’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, but God still provided it for you.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 6:23
There is only one way
The gate is narrow
All other ways lead to death
But God’s gift is free. Christ came to set you free. One way.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:4-6
That’s not just good news for the cat that doesn’t need skinning, It’s the best news you could ever receive.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Dan