
By Adam Bennett
Life
is most complicated when it is uncertain. If there is only one road to
choose our next step is easy to decide. It's when we must weigh several
possibilities with unknown outcomes that our sleep is interrupted with
worry.
Spurgeon wrote that, "Ifs, buts, and
perhapses, are sure murderers of peace and comfort." This is not only
true of everyday choices but even more so in matters of faith.
James
said that, "the doubter is like a wave of the sea
tossed hither and thither by the wind. A man like that should not think
he will receive anything from the Lord. He is always in two minds and
unstable in all he does." (James 1: 6-8 REB)
The
verse is sometimes misinterpreted, especially those who follow 'word of
faith' teaching, to suggest we need to banish every negative feeling
and word if our faith is to be effective. Faith is not a mystical
incantation that can be undone by our feelings of uncertainty. This is
teaching more akin to witchcraft than prayer!
The
point instead is that we can't live with two minds. We cannot
simultaneously follow two pathways travelling in opposite directions. A
doubter then in this context is someone who has not set their life on a
single course toward God.
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I think it is helpful
to think of faith as a trajectory. That's why we can read of the father
who came to Jesus to ask for healing for his son who said, "I do
believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NIV). His unbelief
did not unsettle the firm trajectory of his belief.
So, if we would have certainty and peace in our life we need a single
minded determination to seek God.
Copyright Adam Bennett 2008. More articles are available at http://godward-thoughts.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE
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