LIVE@5 – Tuesday, May 3, 2022
John 20:24–29 (NKJV)
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
John 20:24-25
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
This well-known story of Thomas the disciple doubting the account of the other disciples’ seeing Jesus describes a scene of despair and disbelief. Thomas, still gathering with Jesus’ disciples, still associating with His group, His team, His family, has developed a somewhat deep skepticism concerning the validity of the resurrection. When he returned from an errand and heard the news of Jesus’ appearance, he scoffed at it and declared his insistence on seeing the print of the nail and the hole in His side before he would believe.
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
John 20:26-29
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Eight days later–what must have seemed like an eternity–Jesus appeared again in the upper room and spoke to them. He specifically instructed Thomas to examine and probe the nail prints and the wound in His side. At the actual sight of Jesus, Thomas no longer needed this extreme proof, but identified Him as Lord and God. Jesus commended Him for His current state of belief, but taught in that moment that faith without sight is the truly blessed way to believe.
For what do you refuse to believe God? Is there a miracle, a healing, a provision that seems impossible, beyond the realm of imagination for you? Jesus will appear to you, whether physically or spiritually, and will help you believe. However, just like Thomas, the better portion is to believe before the proof shows up in front of you. Believe in spite of circumstances. Believe when you mind screams, “Impossible!” Believe until reality catches up to faith. Then, the depths of blessing will be amazing and powerful. Believe!
Artwork from https://episcopalchurch.org/files/u3/thomas.jpg
Devoted To You 
Always a good story for 2000 years out. I was lucky. LoL. I came out of a non Christian family not knowing any different. I wasn’t urged to be skeptical. I thought those who wrote where honest. So, I believed. It wasn’t till a few years later where the pressures of life and opposition hit that I started to question, but because I had the holy spirit working in me, I had opposition to doubt right inside me. Since those days I have returned to a more stable footing in that I unwavering believe because I considered the possibility that all of history was rigged and the small miracles I have seen are fake. Once considered its more absurd to be an atheist for many reasons.
Sorting out this important issue for our minds and hearts is key to a stable christian life.
LikeLiked by 1 person