The Essential Ingredient

The Essential Ingredient

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. …

James 1:6

A good cooking effort often comes to nothing because of the omission of an essential ingredient.  The cake has a strange taste.  The casserole is not fit for human consumption, but the dog loves it!  The sauce disappears down the sink.  All of these things occur because we failed to include that necessary item.  While the text for yesterday does make a promise upon which we can certainly depend, our text for today exhorts us with regard to that one essential ingredient which is necessary for our gaining the wisdom which we so desperately need.  As in all other areas of our Christian walk, faith is the essential ingredient to our gaining wisdom.  In the beginning of the text we see the necessity of our faith declared.  “Let him ask in faith” makes this an indispensable item.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”  If we desire the wisdom which our previous day’s text offers, then our asking cannot be with anything less than full confidence in the God from whom we ask it.  We see the nature of that faith described in the words “nothing wavering.”  Our faith in God’s Word and in His willingness to do all that He has promised must be as unshakeable as the Rock upon which that faith rests.  Who is more worthy of our faith than Christ?  Upon whom can we more thoroughly rely?  Christ is utterly trustworthy.  Every instance in Scripture bears eloquent testimony to the fact that Christ always came through for those who have faith in Him.   ‘My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed.  I trust the Ever-Living One, His wounds for me shall plead.’

Our text also depicts the effect of a lack of faith.  When we have a lacking faith we become turbulent, unstable, and inconstant.  We are “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

Who wants to live in a frame of mind like that?  It is much better that we should simply look, first to Christ, and then trust that God will give us what we need if we will ask Him.  When you ask God for the wisdom to make that decision you are facing, remember, “Ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

Oh, Our God and Father,

grant unto us an unwavering faith

to ask with full confidence

for that wisdom which we require.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice