Then Jesus told [Thomas], “Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed.” John 20:29
He probably didn’t coin the phrase, but Thomas was a “seeing is believing” kind of guy. Patron saint of Missouri, the “show-me” state ... at least when it came to the resurrection of the Christ. Maybe Thomas was too crushed in spirit by Jesus’ death to dare to hope again. Whatever the reason, when his closest friends reported, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas would have nothing of their eye-witness account.
Of course, we know the rest of the story: Jesus showed himself to Thomas, yet also took the opportunity to bless those who believe without seeing. So why is it so much better in God’s eyes to believe what we do not see? What difference does it make? Why is faith – certainty of what we hope for yet cannot see – so important?
God loves us more than we can begin to imagine, much more than we love ourselves. He not only hears and answers our prayers, he blesses and cares for us in countless ways for which we never even think to ask. He defends us when we’re unaware of attack; he provides when we're clueless to our need. He convicts when we don't see our sin; he forgives when we don't know what we’re doing. God sends people into our lives before we know we need them, and he uses us to bless those around us, though we’re often oblivious to the process. God delights in us. Pure and simple. He proactively, joyfully, eagerly, infinitely delights in us.
What does any of this have to do with belief? As great as God’s love for us, so much does he want us to love him and trust him completely with every aspect of our lives. “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,” wrote Paul1. Now, if we loved someone even half as purely as God loved us, how would we feel if he or she wouldn’t believe us unless we proved it on their terms? Wouldn’t we be crushed? Wouldn’t we much rather they trust and enjoy our love for them? Wouldn’t we be elated if they had experienced our love so deeply that they laid aside all fear and doubt, accepting and entrusting themselves to our love, instead? Wouldn’t this be the kind of relationship we most desired and cherished?
When we look back on our life, do we now see God's unfailing love for us? Though he is no more visible now than then, he’s not about to change his faithfulness or his character. Then what could delight God more than for us to trust him, not based upon our “prove it” litmus tests, but in the full confidence and faith that he loves us without limit and he always will.
God, just for today, I choose to believe you. I delight in you and thank you for delighting in me. I entrust all that I am to you, for you are faithful, loving and true. And when I awake to a new day tomorrow, I will believe you yet again, for your steadfast love endures forever.
[The daily reading is found in John 20:26-31.]
1 1 Corinthians 13:7
He probably didn’t coin the phrase, but Thomas was a “seeing is believing” kind of guy. Patron saint of Missouri, the “show-me” state ... at least when it came to the resurrection of the Christ. Maybe Thomas was too crushed in spirit by Jesus’ death to dare to hope again. Whatever the reason, when his closest friends reported, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas would have nothing of their eye-witness account.
Of course, we know the rest of the story: Jesus showed himself to Thomas, yet also took the opportunity to bless those who believe without seeing. So why is it so much better in God’s eyes to believe what we do not see? What difference does it make? Why is faith – certainty of what we hope for yet cannot see – so important?
God loves us more than we can begin to imagine, much more than we love ourselves. He not only hears and answers our prayers, he blesses and cares for us in countless ways for which we never even think to ask. He defends us when we’re unaware of attack; he provides when we're clueless to our need. He convicts when we don't see our sin; he forgives when we don't know what we’re doing. God sends people into our lives before we know we need them, and he uses us to bless those around us, though we’re often oblivious to the process. God delights in us. Pure and simple. He proactively, joyfully, eagerly, infinitely delights in us.
What does any of this have to do with belief? As great as God’s love for us, so much does he want us to love him and trust him completely with every aspect of our lives. “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,” wrote Paul1. Now, if we loved someone even half as purely as God loved us, how would we feel if he or she wouldn’t believe us unless we proved it on their terms? Wouldn’t we be crushed? Wouldn’t we much rather they trust and enjoy our love for them? Wouldn’t we be elated if they had experienced our love so deeply that they laid aside all fear and doubt, accepting and entrusting themselves to our love, instead? Wouldn’t this be the kind of relationship we most desired and cherished?
When we look back on our life, do we now see God's unfailing love for us? Though he is no more visible now than then, he’s not about to change his faithfulness or his character. Then what could delight God more than for us to trust him, not based upon our “prove it” litmus tests, but in the full confidence and faith that he loves us without limit and he always will.
God, just for today, I choose to believe you. I delight in you and thank you for delighting in me. I entrust all that I am to you, for you are faithful, loving and true. And when I awake to a new day tomorrow, I will believe you yet again, for your steadfast love endures forever.
[The daily reading is found in John 20:26-31.]
1 1 Corinthians 13:7
No comments:
Post a Comment