| II Samuel 18:1-19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 16:14-15
“Jesus said, ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.’ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:29-31)
In the verses above this one, the disciple Thomas told the other disciples that he could not believe until he physically saw Jesus and literally put his hand on His wounds. Many of us are like Thomas. We’re like the old saying, “I’m from Missouri, show me.” We are so bound by our physical senses and limitations and our life experiences that it’s hard for us to just believe. Yet that is what faith requires.
The disciples were so blessed to walk with Jesus and to see Him perform His miracles firsthand, and still we see one that found His resurrection hard to believe. Jesus told Thomas that we who have never physically seen Him but believe in Him are the blessed ones. God allowed so many things to be recorded for our benefit and then He planted the seed of faith within us. (To every man is given a measure of faith – Romans 3:3) You are blessed and favored of God because you take Him at His Word. Stay strong, keep the faith, God is real and His Word is true. You have brothers and sisters throughout the world of like precious faith. Be encouraged, you are not alone.
PRAYER:
Thank You Jesus for all You have done for us. Even though I have never seen You with my physical eyes, I have seen that You still perform miracles all of the time. I hear Your voice in my heart, I sense Your presence all around and I see Your love and concern shine through the family of God that You have placed me in. I know You are real, I believe…Amen. |
