Have you been laughed at for following Jesus? Has anyone mocked your belief with fancy arguments and well crafted insults? If so, chances are you’re making our Lord smile because you’re not a closet Christian or a fair-weather follower! As we take a stand for Jesus and love one another (enemies included) , it irritates unbelievers. So what does Christ say about doubt? “Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27)
I thank God for Thomas, one of the original twelve Apostles chosen by Christ, who said, “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.” (John 20:25) Now that is some serious ATTITUDE! In true Jesus fashion, eight days later, Christ appears (without using a door no less) in the room with the disciples now accompanied by Thomas. Jesus lovingly says, “ 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.” This is nothing short of a drop the mic moment! Can you imagine what had to be going through Thomas’ mind? “Wait, how does He know what I said, He wasn’t here?”
WRONG! God is everywhere, all the time. His omniscience and omnipresence are not intended to freak us out. Rather, let His character remind you of His tremendous love. Let Jesus APPEAR in your conversations. Let your words honor what He’s done in the flawed areas of your life. Share the most powerful proof that exists today of God’s sovereignty, YOUR TESTIMONY! Your testimony is His victory. Are you doing the victory dance in your life or are you moping around like a victim?
Thomas usually gets a bad rap and has been referred to as “doubting Thomas” for his very human response that we read above. I’d like to remind everyone of the “believing Thomas” that we hear less about. Thomas preached the Good News of Christ which lead to his murder in Calamine, a city in India. Now that’s PROOF! He went through a complete transformation from a man filled with doubt to a man filled with the fearless love of Christ.
So here’s your challenge this week: Be the “believing Thomas” and let Jesus APPEAR in at least one conversation you have this week. Give Him all praise, honor and glory. Be the proof of His Good News no matter the ridicule you may face! Then share the results and be encouraged as you are the light in the darkness.
