The Skewer Test

Linda is currently away.  Here is one of her most popular posts from recent blogs.

If it comes out clean it means the cake is cooked all the way through.

James 5:1-20

Reference: v.7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (TNIV Bible)

Explore: I don’t bake very often, but when I do, I quite enjoy it.  I’ll pick a delicious sounding recipe and step my way through the instructions to make sure I get everything just right.  After the cake is mixed and constructed I’ll put it in the oven to cook.  This is my least favourite part in the cooking process… the waiting.  The minutes seem to creep along and I’ll constantly check the oven door to see if the cake has started to rise.  When the time of cooking is nearly up, I will always bring the cake out prematurely so I guarantee that I won’t burn it.  I’ll get a skewer and stick it into the middle of the cake.  If it comes out clean it means the cake is cooked all the way through.  If it comes out with wet mixture on it I’ll need to put it back in the oven.  As I always bring the cake out too early,  I’ll need to put it back in, then do the skewer test a second time (and no doubt a third and fourth time too!).  The other day I became so impatient that I brought the cake out too early.  When I went to cut the cake up I found that it was fine on the outside but it was still all gooey in the middle.  I was too embarrassed to serve it to anyone, so my family got the second rate cake.

Application: When it comes to trusting in God, He will often ask us to be patient.  It must be difficult for most people to be patient as the Bible regularly addresses this issue.  If it is important for me to be patient with my cooking, so that my cake turns out well, how much more important must it be for us to be patient with God,  so that our lives turn out well?  God does not make us wait to torment us, but because we need to take the best possible amount of time so we are not soggy in the middle.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I think that I know the best timing.  May we trust in You and Your sense of timing.  Amen.

What are you waiting for?

cooking, James, patience, waiting