24Now Thomas (also known as Didymusa ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
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.”
26A 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!” 27Then 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.”
28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Thoughts: Doubts are a part of life. In some ways God created us to doubt. We should doubt our pride. We should doubt our selfishness. We should doubt those who walk among us as wolves in sheep's clothing. We should doubt our ability to jump off a cliff and fly. Doubt can be useful if we doubt the right things. But never in the Bible does it commend doubting God or doubting Jesus. We should doubt thin ice, but we shouldn't doubt thick ice. To live in doubt means to live without faith and hope. So many in our day doubt everything- and because we do not hold truth as a high value, and do not value the idea that God will hold us accountable for untruth, we need to be careful. But doubting the living Christ keeps us from living in freedom, hope, and peace.
Thomas doubted that Jesus rose from the dead- even when he heard the testimony of others. He had to see for himself. This is why Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." James 1:6 says, "He who doubts is like the waves of the see tossed to and fro." Doubt keeps us from being steady and going forward. It just leaves us dead in the water at the mercy of the wind and waves.
Children do not usually doubt their parents, but trust them. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, "Unless you become like a little child you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven." Chrsitianity is not a religion of doubt but a religion of faith. Without faith, the Bible says, it is impossible to please. God. For the one who believes must believe that God is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6).
Thomas doubted that Jesus rose from the dead- even when he heard the testimony of others. He had to see for himself. This is why Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." James 1:6 says, "He who doubts is like the waves of the see tossed to and fro." Doubt keeps us from being steady and going forward. It just leaves us dead in the water at the mercy of the wind and waves.
Children do not usually doubt their parents, but trust them. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, "Unless you become like a little child you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven." Chrsitianity is not a religion of doubt but a religion of faith. Without faith, the Bible says, it is impossible to please. God. For the one who believes must believe that God is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6).
Prayer: Help me Lord, to trust in you, the living God. Give me grace to believe and not be filled with doubt.
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