It's been quite a while since I've posted!! But I hope to give you a little something to chew on today. :)
I've taken lately to reading daily devotionals from She Reads Truth. Today's happened to spur some thoughts, so to prepare you for those, follow this link to read the devotional:
http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/15/for-t
Did you do it? Okay, then here are my thoughts:
First, how judgmental are we of Thomas? At least, I know I have been. I mean, he's got his best friends telling him that they've seen the risen Christ, in addition to knowledge of the coming resurrection from Christ's own lips, and yet he still can't believe? We want to scoff at him and pretend that we would never doubt the word of the other disciples or the possibility of Christ being risen. Yet, we (fortunately) haven't been in his shoes. Remember, there were many times during the three and a half years of Christ's ministry that, though He explicitly told the disciples what to expect, they couldn't understand what He meant. Then, too, Thomas had seen Jesus beaten, mocked, and crucified. He'd seen the Christ hanging dead upon the cross. Thomas had seen the body anointed and laid to rest, seen the tomb sealed, seen Roman soldiers set to guard its entrance. He'd watched what was supposed to be the conquering king, the savior of Israel, seemingly be defeated. He was probably trying to connect the faith he had come to have in Jesus with the events of the last few weeks. How could any of it make sense to him? His world had come crumbling down around him. He was basically living as a fugitive, fearful for his life after seeing what they had done to his Master. And then, to be told that that very Christ had come and shown Himself bodily to His disciples while Thomas was elsewhere...Surely we can give Thomas a little grace here? It's definitely a lot to take in!
Besides, who are we to judge? We've all done the same. That's right, I'm making a big, sweeping statement here, ALL. And I don't doubt for a second that I'm right. You don't think you've ever doubted? What about the time:
Reading through this, I realized how many times I've been guilty of these and more, how many times I've been guilty of doubt in my Savior. That's an awful feeling and a terrible place to be. Suddenly, my contempt for Thomas turns to pity and compassion. I understand where he was when he wanted to see Christ face-to-face, to touch His wounds in order to believe. It certainly doesn't make it right; obviously, faith is better. But sometimes it is easy to forget Christ's promises and provisions for me. It's easy to want to see physical proof and forget to see that I'm looking at it every day - when I look at my bank account, and I see $0.69 cents left for the week, but I know all my bills are paid and that I don't need to purchase anything else for the week; when I see my great grandmother in sickness, but feel the joy of knowing that she is a woman of faith (a hero of the faith, to me); when I lost my job, but another was there before my time was even up at the first; when the things I'm busy with are Kingdom-building things and I see the fruits in the lives of those I teach and fellowship with. Do you see it? We have just as much reason to believe and to forbear from demanding evidence, because it's all around us, in just the same way it was for Thomas - and yet we still doubt. Why?
I think sometimes it's a simple lack of focusing on Christ. I think we get sidelined focusing on all of the earthly things, that we put our eyes on them and start to believe that they're so much bigger than they are, forgetting that Jesus is by far bigger. I believe that we allow our view of Christ to be diminished, and in doing so, our fickle, deceitful hearts are easily led astray. The answer isn't necessarily to throw yourself into more church-related things, et cetera, et cetera. The answer is to simply fall to your knees, repent of your doubt, ask Christ to realign your focus and your heart on Him, and to aid you in fighting the temptation to doubt. The answer is to turn over all of these problems to Christ (that doesn't mean inaction on your part, but a lack of worry on your part). The answer is to mine His Word for His promises to rely on in times of trial and tempation. The answer is to thank Him for His provision, His daily mercies and grace, His unfathomable love for you - and then to live based on that truth, instead of the devil's lies.
Christ, I humbly thank You for Your mercy that rains down on me daily. I beg Your forgiveness for the times I've listened to Satan's whispers and allowed myself to forget that You are sovereign, You are in control, and You are most definitely mightier than any trial I might face. I thank You that Your Word says You are working every situation for my good and Your glory. I pray that when next I face a situation where I am tempted to doubt Your power and love, that You would remind me of who You are, that You would keep my heart and mind focused on the truth of Your Word and the vast beauty of Your promises, that You would remind me there is a purpose to it, and that You would draw me ever closer to You through it. You are an amazing God, and I am awestruck at Your name. I love You, Lord, but only because You have loved me first. Amen.
I've taken lately to reading daily devotionals from She Reads Truth. Today's happened to spur some thoughts, so to prepare you for those, follow this link to read the devotional:
http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/15/for-t
Did you do it? Okay, then here are my thoughts:
First, how judgmental are we of Thomas? At least, I know I have been. I mean, he's got his best friends telling him that they've seen the risen Christ, in addition to knowledge of the coming resurrection from Christ's own lips, and yet he still can't believe? We want to scoff at him and pretend that we would never doubt the word of the other disciples or the possibility of Christ being risen. Yet, we (fortunately) haven't been in his shoes. Remember, there were many times during the three and a half years of Christ's ministry that, though He explicitly told the disciples what to expect, they couldn't understand what He meant. Then, too, Thomas had seen Jesus beaten, mocked, and crucified. He'd seen the Christ hanging dead upon the cross. Thomas had seen the body anointed and laid to rest, seen the tomb sealed, seen Roman soldiers set to guard its entrance. He'd watched what was supposed to be the conquering king, the savior of Israel, seemingly be defeated. He was probably trying to connect the faith he had come to have in Jesus with the events of the last few weeks. How could any of it make sense to him? His world had come crumbling down around him. He was basically living as a fugitive, fearful for his life after seeing what they had done to his Master. And then, to be told that that very Christ had come and shown Himself bodily to His disciples while Thomas was elsewhere...Surely we can give Thomas a little grace here? It's definitely a lot to take in!
Besides, who are we to judge? We've all done the same. That's right, I'm making a big, sweeping statement here, ALL. And I don't doubt for a second that I'm right. You don't think you've ever doubted? What about the time:
- You watched someone you love sick or in pain, and you pled for healing, but that prayer wasn't answered with a yes?
- You couldn't quite make ends meet, and you stressed out about your finances?
- You lost your job and weren't sure what you were going to do now?
- You were super busy with no time to catch a breath, and you wondered why God put so much on your plate?
Reading through this, I realized how many times I've been guilty of these and more, how many times I've been guilty of doubt in my Savior. That's an awful feeling and a terrible place to be. Suddenly, my contempt for Thomas turns to pity and compassion. I understand where he was when he wanted to see Christ face-to-face, to touch His wounds in order to believe. It certainly doesn't make it right; obviously, faith is better. But sometimes it is easy to forget Christ's promises and provisions for me. It's easy to want to see physical proof and forget to see that I'm looking at it every day - when I look at my bank account, and I see $0.69 cents left for the week, but I know all my bills are paid and that I don't need to purchase anything else for the week; when I see my great grandmother in sickness, but feel the joy of knowing that she is a woman of faith (a hero of the faith, to me); when I lost my job, but another was there before my time was even up at the first; when the things I'm busy with are Kingdom-building things and I see the fruits in the lives of those I teach and fellowship with. Do you see it? We have just as much reason to believe and to forbear from demanding evidence, because it's all around us, in just the same way it was for Thomas - and yet we still doubt. Why?
I think sometimes it's a simple lack of focusing on Christ. I think we get sidelined focusing on all of the earthly things, that we put our eyes on them and start to believe that they're so much bigger than they are, forgetting that Jesus is by far bigger. I believe that we allow our view of Christ to be diminished, and in doing so, our fickle, deceitful hearts are easily led astray. The answer isn't necessarily to throw yourself into more church-related things, et cetera, et cetera. The answer is to simply fall to your knees, repent of your doubt, ask Christ to realign your focus and your heart on Him, and to aid you in fighting the temptation to doubt. The answer is to turn over all of these problems to Christ (that doesn't mean inaction on your part, but a lack of worry on your part). The answer is to mine His Word for His promises to rely on in times of trial and tempation. The answer is to thank Him for His provision, His daily mercies and grace, His unfathomable love for you - and then to live based on that truth, instead of the devil's lies.
Christ, I humbly thank You for Your mercy that rains down on me daily. I beg Your forgiveness for the times I've listened to Satan's whispers and allowed myself to forget that You are sovereign, You are in control, and You are most definitely mightier than any trial I might face. I thank You that Your Word says You are working every situation for my good and Your glory. I pray that when next I face a situation where I am tempted to doubt Your power and love, that You would remind me of who You are, that You would keep my heart and mind focused on the truth of Your Word and the vast beauty of Your promises, that You would remind me there is a purpose to it, and that You would draw me ever closer to You through it. You are an amazing God, and I am awestruck at Your name. I love You, Lord, but only because You have loved me first. Amen.
