Thomas
I feel bad for Thomas. He was always called the doubter. Other people doubted all the time...Flippin Moses hardly walked a step without doubt. David doubted. Job doubted. Jonah doubted. Jacob doubted. I would almost bet just about everyone did at one point.
But only Thomas got the label of the doubter. John 20 is the story. His doubts weren't necessarily his fault if you ask me. He wasnt there when Jesus came back the first time, and I can't imagine I would be any less doubtful than he at a story so fantastic, so unbelieveable. I credit his doubt to being a logical person. The most logical people I know doubt God the most. Because it really smacks logic in the face to think that God loves each person individually, regardless of what they say or do. It's hard for the logical person to read a passage of scripture and connect it to themselves. "But God was saying he planned Jeremiah's future...not mine."
Sometimes our brains can really get in the way of our faith.
And sometimes, like in the case of Thomas, our logic and our doubts can line us up for a very intimate moment of God perfectly revealing himself to us on a private and personal level. I call them romantic, mostly because God has taken time out of his very busy schedule to grab us and love us specifically, personally, individually. Things that no one else would understand, that no one else would feel or want.
Thomas knew exactly what that moment needed to be for him. He said it to his friends clear as day...He wanted to put his hands in the marks left by the nails and the spear. Ew...boys are so gross.
Jesus offered that "romantic moment" to him when he said, put your hand in there Thomas...I was dead. And as plain as day I'm alive. They didn't record a moment of Thomas asking Jesus if he could do that. Jesus just knew thats what he needed. None of the others got to do that. None of the other disciples got invited to stick their hand in there. (If i think about that too much it really grosses me out.) This was a special moment of Jesus showing Thomas in a way that only Thomas needed.
I've been in a particularly large funk lately. I've been funky about my life in ways that I've not ever been before. In the last week or so, God has been answering random prayers. But doing so in a way that ticks me off. Almost like when you ask someone for a hand and they start clapping. Several times in the last month I have looked to the sky and snarled out a "You know what I meant God!"
I know God isnt a smartalec.
I dont think he's sarcastic.
But I feel a little bit like Thomas lately. Everyone around me is proclaiming the same message, and I just want to say, "I'll believe it when I stick my hand in it."
You can pray for me about that.
Pray that I see God answering prayers more strategically.
Pray that I see more of those romantic moments.
Pray that God offers up his side.
But only Thomas got the label of the doubter. John 20 is the story. His doubts weren't necessarily his fault if you ask me. He wasnt there when Jesus came back the first time, and I can't imagine I would be any less doubtful than he at a story so fantastic, so unbelieveable. I credit his doubt to being a logical person. The most logical people I know doubt God the most. Because it really smacks logic in the face to think that God loves each person individually, regardless of what they say or do. It's hard for the logical person to read a passage of scripture and connect it to themselves. "But God was saying he planned Jeremiah's future...not mine."
Sometimes our brains can really get in the way of our faith.
And sometimes, like in the case of Thomas, our logic and our doubts can line us up for a very intimate moment of God perfectly revealing himself to us on a private and personal level. I call them romantic, mostly because God has taken time out of his very busy schedule to grab us and love us specifically, personally, individually. Things that no one else would understand, that no one else would feel or want.
Thomas knew exactly what that moment needed to be for him. He said it to his friends clear as day...He wanted to put his hands in the marks left by the nails and the spear. Ew...boys are so gross.
Jesus offered that "romantic moment" to him when he said, put your hand in there Thomas...I was dead. And as plain as day I'm alive. They didn't record a moment of Thomas asking Jesus if he could do that. Jesus just knew thats what he needed. None of the others got to do that. None of the other disciples got invited to stick their hand in there. (If i think about that too much it really grosses me out.) This was a special moment of Jesus showing Thomas in a way that only Thomas needed.
I've been in a particularly large funk lately. I've been funky about my life in ways that I've not ever been before. In the last week or so, God has been answering random prayers. But doing so in a way that ticks me off. Almost like when you ask someone for a hand and they start clapping. Several times in the last month I have looked to the sky and snarled out a "You know what I meant God!"
I know God isnt a smartalec.
I dont think he's sarcastic.
But I feel a little bit like Thomas lately. Everyone around me is proclaiming the same message, and I just want to say, "I'll believe it when I stick my hand in it."
You can pray for me about that.
Pray that I see God answering prayers more strategically.
Pray that I see more of those romantic moments.
Pray that God offers up his side.
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