John 20:29

The scripture for today is John 20:29

 

John 20:29 Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 

Faith is defined in scripture as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 And we are also told that "without faith it is impossible to please Him." Hebrews 11:6 Thomas, who had been an apostle of Christ from the beginning of His ministry, was not present when Jesus presented Himself to the other apostles after His resurrection. Upon hearing the good news, instead of responding with joy, Thomas responded with unbelief. He had been with Jesus. He heard Jesus tell them that He would rise again. Yet, when the news was presented to Him that the words of Christ had been fulfilled, Thomas doubted. He refused to believe unless he saw it with his own eyes. 

 

The response of Jesus to Thomas is revealing; it gets to the issue that many of us face today. While we have the Word of God, containing His promises to us, we often refuse to stand in faith on His Word until we have seen something tangible. Seeing is not faith. Faith is believing and trusting the Word of God in the absence of any other evidence. When we have faith in the Word of God, we do not need anything else to convince us that it is true. Our faith is not "blind faith," it is faith that is based upon the truth that we see spiritually. It is not a natural perception, but rather a spiritual reality that actually transcends reason and apprehends God. What God has promised will certainly come to pass, and if God said it that settles it once and for all. It is good if we believe His Word, but it is true whether we accept it or not. The reality of the resurrection was not changed by the unbelief of Thomas, but Thomas was changed by the power of the resurrection. Our unbelief does not negate the power of God; it negates our ability to receive His power on our behalf. The blessings of God flow to those who put their belief and trust in Him; "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

 

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim