The first time I read this passage of scripture about Thomas, and his unbelief, that Jesus had conquered death, I thought how sad is that? That is just wrong! But, there are more Thomas type folks than you might think.
I have experienced times when I found myself thinking God was not gonna come through. I never doubted His power to do it, just doubted that He would answer, for me. Ultimately, the answers might not look like what we hoped or imagined they would be, but they are always right. Somehow, someday, we suddenly see…the why…of those answers.
Thomas was faithful. He loved Jesus. He just needed to see to believe. Scripture indicates he was ready to make the trip with Jesus to Bethany to see about the death of Lazarus. That miracle was for the disciples. If Jesus could bring Lazarus from the tomb of death, He surely could walk Himself out of that same situation. But the disciples were not really grasping that a day was coming. Even though Thomas saw Lazarus walk out in grave clothes that he was wrapped in for four days, he still needed to see Jesus for himself, to remove the doubt.
The important thing to remember about Thomas is that the minute he saw the nail pierced hands and the wound in the side of Jesus, he proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” He didn’t have another question. He didn’t try to turn it into a conspiracy theory. His faith was firmed up solidly in that moment.
~Thought For Today~
I think that the one who has a “historic” encounter with Jesus and the power of God? Well. They are never gonna be the same person they were the seconds before the answers came.
I pray about everything. I pray before I merge into heavy traffic. I am not one bit ashamed to thank God for helping me complete what is often a high risk adventure…merging in traffic. He desires that we converse with Him about everything. Nothing is too miniscule for His attention. He is our Father. Our heavenly Father! He is the smartest, wisest, most giving Father in the world! He wants to hear our voice about everything!
The past several days, things were being prayed over. Serious things. There were a number of us praying over multiple things that needed to happen. Be resolved. Committed to pray. By the way, if someone asks for prayer, that prayer needs to come out with guns up. Coming to God, moment to moment, as the widow continued to come before the judge. It needs to be continuous until the answers come. God has answered many a prayer in our lives. But still, it is an amazing faith building experience when God starts responding to those prayers in a twenty-four hour period. That first answer comes and then like a row of dominos standing in a line, one falls and that starts a chain reaction.
So we decided before we all turned in for the night, that we had prayed earnestly and without ceasing. God knew all of the needs. As night fell we agreed it was time to be still and fold all the details up nice and compact and just hand them over to our Father in Heaven. Our Shepherd. Our Lion of Judah.
Today, the answers and blessings came. The one we were praying for? The words, “I give all the glory to God,” came from her. Just like Thomas, she had seen enough. No need for more proof, that God does indeed listen to our prayers and He answers us. Blessed are those who do not see and believe.
~Scripture For Today~
John 20:24-29
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We thank You for removing our doubts. For faith that grows though we cannot see. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.