Yes, doubting Thomas. He's the person on my mind this morning. I have been reading about him this morning and there are some amazing things that God is revealing to me. Of course I had to jump on here and share! It's really important that I write out the passage of scripture that I am studying today so that I can highlight certain things so here we go...
John 20: 24-31, "24. Now Thomas one of the twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.25. So the other disciples told him,' We have seen the Lord!' (I can hear Thomas thinking, well goody for you) But he said to them, ' Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.'
* The first thing that stuck out to me was that Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first came. He wasn't around to witness that miracle. I realized that even though I have witnessed God's presence many times, I'm not sure that I have actually seen the miraculous, as in healings etc. People who could not see, getting their sight back. People who were lame and get up and start walking. I haven't really witnessed God's presence in that way in real time. I have seen it on tv or read stories, but it's not the same, according to Thomas, as being there. Otherwise, the other disciples witnessing it and just telling Thomas about it would have been good enough. But it wasn't if you read that rest of the above verses.
26. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ' Peace be with you!' 27.Then He said to Thomas, ' Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'
* Wow. How many of us want Jesus to just show up like that in our situations. Jesus had a special mercy on Thomas to show up like that and give Thomas the proof that he desired. I mean, come on. He literally got exactly what he asked for. I have to admit, that during my journey, I have wanted God to show up like that. If I could just touch His hands, see His face so that this whole doubting and disbelief would completely disappear and not be a battle that I have to keep fighting.
29.Thomas said to Him, ' My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, ' Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'
* Um, duh, if Thomas didn't believe after this, well, he needs counseling. But what's hilarious is that even though, like I said earlier, I haven't seen miracle after miracle in my face, I have seen the presence of God in powerful ways. He has even used me to usher that presence in and yet, I am still shaken in my belief every day...so I believe I'm the one who needs counseling! All kidding aside...Jesus said blessed are we who HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE BELIEVED. That's us, we have not seen Jesus physically in front of us but we still continue to hang on and believe that He will do what He has promised and that He exist. That makes us BLESSED(divinely or supremely favored; fortunate,blissfully happy or contented).
30. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."
* Ah, yes, the powerful Word of God. Always there for us. It is our proof, time and time again that we have no reason to doubt or fear that He is good and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We do not have to be shaken or blown about by the wind every time something happens that seems contrary to what He has promised. The Word, the Word, the Word. We have to keep it in us until it's apart of us like an appendage. When it's not there we should feel like something is very wrong and something is really missing.
I write this today, because more of my tears come from the fact that I detest that I have to convince my mind and my body everyday not to doubt God and all that He has said. I am overcoming. I do believe and I am not in fear. God is just continuing to back up everything through His Word so that I can continue to help others get free from these nagging things. We have to keep speaking out loud the miraculous. We have to keep encouraging each other with how God is showing up in our lives.
Yesterday was not an amazing day for me physically and neither is today really, but I went to church yesterday and I drove my car for a 20 minute stent, painted pumpkins with my boys and our wonderful neighbors and today I am completely on my own with my babes! Yes, God is so, so good!
So thanks Doubting Thomas, I'm glad you got your proof, I believe I got mine too!
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