Do you have a cookie jar in your kitchen?
Cookie jars were first used in England toward the end of the 18th century — only they were called biscuit barrels. These containers were usually simple glass jars with metal lids. However, tea biscuits were frequently sold in metal containers and these “biscuit tins” were often saved and reused.
For some reason, cookie jars started becoming popular in the United States during the Great Depression (1929). (Perhaps people were feeling these common household containers were a safer place to stash their hard-earned nickels and dimes!) Around this time, cylindrical-shaped stoneware cookie jars, many of which were decorated with a floral pattern, began to replace the simpler, plain glass jars.
A few years later, the Brush Pottery Company of Ohio produced the first cookie jars made of ceramic, a material which allowed the containers to be molded into a variety of shapes, such as fruits, vegetables, animals or comical figures. Suddenly people were collecting cookie jars, and several companies decided to encourage the craze by offering a seemingly endless array of designs — ushering in a “golden age” of American Cookie jar production, from 1940 until the early 1970s.
We have a beautiful “birdhouse” cookie jar on our kitchen counter — because we LOVE birds! — and we store our 
Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies inside it. We buy these delicious cookies to keep on hand in case any guests drop by unexpectedly; we want to always have a treat to serve to them with their coffee. So we don’t usually pilfer the cookie jar. In fact, we keep the bag of Milano cookies sealed until we need them. (We only eat them ourselves if they’re close to going out of date, after we’ve replaced them with a fresh pack.) We’re good like that!
Wish we could say the same were true for us when we were kids! Both of us were frequently “caught with our hand in the cookie jar”! Wilma’s mom had a Mother Goose cookie jar. Tom’s mother had a teddy bear cookie jar. Both jars were kept well stocked. Both jars were an endless source of red-faced shame: there’s something embarrassing about being caught standing tippy-toed on a kitchen chair with one hand fishing around inside the “brain” of a brown ceramic bear! BUSTED!
The phrase “caught with your hand in the cookie jar” means: to be discovered taking something you’re not entitled to. When it comes to cookies, there may be several reasons we’re not entitled to a cookie: we’re saving the cookies for guests; we’re dieting and don’t need a cookie; we’ve already had our fair share of cookies; it’s close to dinner and we’ll spoil our appetites! Phooey! When you’re a kid, none of this seems fair. We just want a cookie!
“Hand in the cookie jar” has another, informal meaning: to take advantage of one’s unique position by accepting favors. For instance, “That politician has his hand in the cookie jar!”
As believers, we have a unique position in Jesus Christ: we are the sons and daughters of God — His children — and we’re also the Lord’s ambassadors here on earth. And know what? In His “celestial kitchen,” our Heavenly Father has His own “cookie jar”! It’s shaped like a “lamb without spot or wrinkle,” and it’s called God’s abundant life and blessings. He keeps it well stocked, and we never have to fear being caught with our hand in the cookie jar, because His blessings are there especially for us — not just for special guests! Anyone can reach in and grab an “abundant life biscuit” or indulge in a “double stuff” blessing.
Our Heavenly Father is always generous with His cookie jar, and He wants us to help ourselves to as many cookies as we want. “[God] withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.” (Psalm 84:11 NET Bible) His supply of blessings never runs out, and besides, He trusts us to share whatever we receive — instead of acting like the Cookie Monster! “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.” (Psalm 68:19 KJ 2000)
Cookies whenever we want one? Hey, our Heavenly Father is not just an “eat your vegetables” God. He wants us to enjoy our days, so He always keeps the cookie jar in easy reach, 24/7 — 365 days a year. So have ANOTHER cookie!
Jesus said, “…If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11 NLT)