Doubt

John 20:29 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

As he prepared his followers to live faithfully after his return to heaven, Jesus addressed the challenge of doubt and unbelief. Thomas was a realist. He knew that resurrections were not everyday events, and he feared that his fellow followers of Christ might have gotten it wrong. He wanted evidence. He demanded proof.

It’s easy to criticize Thomas for his doubts, but the truth is that many of us live with similar hesitations. After all, Jesus is no longer on earth for us to see and touch. We cannot have the same experience as the first disciples who walked with him after his resurrection. So we need Jesus to prepare us for the challenges of skepticism and doubt in our own lives.

What does Jesus say to struggling followers? “Stop doubting and believe.” We may not have the opportunity to feel the wounds of the cross with our own hands. But we have the testimony of lives changed by the Lord’s power. We can seek out the fellowship of other believers in the church and be encouraged by their words. And we can watch for the glory of Christ to appear around us, joining in with Thomas’s beautiful confession: “My Lord and my God!”

May the ascended Christ prepare you today to meet the challenge of doubt with the blessing of faith.

Dear Lord, it is sometimes hard to believe. We live in an age of doubts and lies, and our human minds constantly demand proof. But we believe; save us from unbelief! Fill us with faith. In the Name of Jesus,  Amen.

Doubt

John 20:29 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

As he prepared his followers to live faithfully after his return to heaven, Jesus addressed the challenge of doubt and unbelief. Thomas was a realist. He knew that resurrections were not everyday events, and he feared that his fellow followers of Christ might have gotten it wrong. He wanted evidence. He demanded proof.

It’s easy to criticize Thomas for his doubts, but the truth is that many of us live with similar hesitations. After all, Jesus is no longer on earth for us to see and touch. We cannot have the same experience as the first disciples who walked with him after his resurrection. So we need Jesus to prepare us for the challenges of skepticism and doubt in our own lives.

What does Jesus say to struggling followers? “Stop doubting and believe.” We may not have the opportunity to feel the wounds of the cross with our own hands. But we have the testimony of lives changed by the Lord’s power. We can seek out the fellowship of other believers in the church and be encouraged by their words. And we can watch for the glory of Christ to appear around us, joining in with Thomas’s beautiful confession: “My Lord and my God!”

May the ascended Christ prepare you today to meet the challenge of doubt with the blessing of faith.

Dear Lord, it is sometimes hard to believe. We live in an age of doubts and lies, and our human minds constantly demand proof. But we believe; we ask You to save us from our unbelief! Fill us with faith. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Walking through walls

John 20:19 (ESV)

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

If you could have any superpower, would you flyover the ocean? Or maybe you’d use your X-ray vision to stop bad guys or transport yourself out of work and into the pool. While most people know that Jesus could heal, control the weather, and even come back to life, they often don’t realize another “superpower” he used: walking through walls.

No open doors? No problem! Jesus waltzed through the walls. He had done it a week earlier. And this time he did it when Thomas — a disciple who had been absent for the first episode — was there. Thomas’ heart must have sped up, guiltily remembering what he had said to his buddies when they told him Jesus was alive. Yet Jesus wasn’t mad at Thomas.

Guess what? It’s okay to be like Doubting Thomas, as long as you bring those doubts to the One with all the answers. God won’t zap you with lightning. In fact, he loves that you’re thinking about him and trying to figure out how he works. Try saying this to God: “I’m having a hard time believing this actually happened, Lord” or “I’m not really understanding why this other thing happened. Could you help me see?”

Jesus still speaks, even when we pull a Thomas and have doubts. Jesus wants to hear about your doubts, and he cares about what you have to say. He wants to prove his power to you. Will you let him?

Dear Lord, help us to bring our doubts to You. Help sus remember that You are all powerful and we have no reason to doubt. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Listening To God

Mark 4:24 (NIV)

 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

A Spirit filled pastor called Pastor Herman Trenholm from Charlottetown, P.E.I. had an unusual experience. He was at the radio station on a Wednesday, prerecording his Bible message for the week. But, for some reason, the words could not come out of his mouth. He had never experienced anything like it. He tried, but he could only stammer out his message.

At the same time, in the same town, a pastor from a large denomination was fighting his doubts about God's existence. Finally, in despair, he opened his phonebook under the heading of churches and drew his finger hazardly down the list, stopping on a particular church. It so happened that this was Pastor Trenholm's church. The other pastor cried out loud: "God, if you do exist, send this pastor to my door within 30 minutes!" (I do not recommend this method, by the way!)

Meanwhile, Pastor Trenholm felt an urgent need to leave the radio station and drive the streets of Charlottetown. Guess where he ended up? You got it. Right at the church of the doubting pastor. Exactly 29 minutes after the pastor had uttered his prayer, Pastor Trenholm knocked on his door. When he opened the door, Pastor Trenholm said, "I have no idea why I'm here, but God told me to come here. Is there anything I can do for you?"

The doubting pastor started to cry, and Pastor Trenholm was able to witness to him. He became born again was baptized by God's Spirit that same day!

Dear Lord, we pray that our ears would be open to You. Help us hear You when You tell us to do something. IN Jesus’ Name, Amen.