Oct1

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Did'-y-mus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:24-29

Thomas, so often referred to as "Doubting Thomas", deserves to be respected for his faith. True, he was a doubter, but his doubts always had a purpose ~ he wanted to know the truth!

Have you ever wished you could actually see Jesus? Stand next to Him, take His hand in yours, and hear His words as you watch Him speak? Are there times when you'd like to sit with Him and get His advice? Thomas wanted Jesus' physically presence also. But our God's plan is much wiser! He has not limited Himself to one physical body ~ He wants to be present with all of us at all times! He is with us even now, as you read this, in the form of the Holy Spirit. You can talk to Him, and you can find His words throughout the pages of the Holy Bible. Jesus can appear as real to us as He did to Thomas. Jesus wasn't hard on Thomas for his doubts. Despite his skepticism, Thomas was still loyal to Him and to other believers. Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, and questions to acceptable answers, then the doubt has done a good work. It is when doubt becomes stubborness and stubborness becomes a life-style that doubt harms faith.

Application:
When you doubt, don't stop there! Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. Doubting is a way of responding ~ not a way of life.

May God bless you with a wonderful day in the Lord, as you take encouragement from a "Doubting Thomas."

Love in Christ,
Sandy