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| John 20:24-29
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
New International Version (NIV)
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It was June 10, 1984. The day after our wedding, Melanie and I loaded up in her light blue Ford Granada and headed up to Estes Park, Colorado from Waco, Texas. Once we left the Fort Worth area on Highway 287, we started seeing funnel clouds in the distance. A radio report warned us that there was a tornado in Claude, Texas. I assured Melanie that we were not headed to Claude, but to Amarillo, the town of my birth, for our first stop on the journey. Little did I know that Claude was, and still is located on highway 287. We had to go through Claude to get to Amarillo. We sheltered in City Hall with dogs, chickens and some wonderful West Texas folks.
Do you ever have your doubts? On Thomas’s journey to faith, he went through a tornado of doubt. He wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection. A confirmed materialist, he was determined not to believe unless he saw Jesus’ wounds for himself. In our day, Thomas could have been from Missouri, the “Show Me” state. In his experience, dead people did not wake up.
What do we do with our doubts? There is some value in speaking them out loud as Thomas did. Christianity is not about pretending to believe if we don’t. Thomas struggled with Jesus’ death and he was not afraid to admit it. Remember, too that doubt may be a stop on our journey to faith, but it is a poor destination. I once had a friend who claimed to be a “seeker.” He was always dabbling in and exploring religions and philosophies. Once, in a candid conversation I asked him if he ever hoped to be a “finder.” He admitted he did not. My friend was content to live with his feet firmly planted in mid-air. Melanie and I had to go through Claude. But we did not have to live there.
One last thought: feel free to doubt your doubts. Doubters doubt lots of things. It only seems fair to doubt whether our doubts are actually legitimate. After his firm speech about his need to see and touch Jesus’ wounds, we have no evidence that he actually did. Seeing Jesus, Thomas confessed him as his Lord and God. Jesus offered for him to touch his hands. Did he? The point is, doubt was not the end of Thomas’s story. But out of his doubt came one of the most powerful professions of faith in the scriptures. Saul had serious doubts about Jesus but he became the Apostle Paul, professing his faith boldly across the known world. Young atheist C. S. Lewis came kicking and screaming to faith. But his words have led others to Christ. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institute for Health moved beyond doubt to faith as well. I suppose we all face doubts from time to time. They don’t have to define us. Just as Amarillo is on the other side of Claude, life is on the other side of our doubts.
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Pray with me:
Father, the difficulties of life sometimes draw us into the vortex of doubt. If anyone reading today feels unable to overcome doubt, I pray that your Spirit would multiply their faith. Help us to doubt our doubts and to move beyond them into the fullness of faith. We have no doubt that you love us and sent your only Son to give us life. You say that we will find you when we seek you with our whole hearts. Make it so, today, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Scripture memorization for this week:
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
New International Version (NIV)
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| Our 2021 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations Bible reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. We will also memorize 2 scriptures each week. As we journal together this year, Robby Gallaty’s H.E.A.R. plan is a good resource: Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.
Joyfully,
Duane
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