Seeing is believing, but....

John 20: 26-29  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.”

       This post resurrection encounter really speaks to me.  Thomas had not been with the disciples the previous week when Jesus appeared to them in the upper room,  See John 20:19-25.  He stated that he would not believe Jesus was alive unless he saw him.   How often this is true for us.  We refuse to believe something unless we see it or hear it for ourselves.  Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”   Hebrews 11:6 continues this thought and assures us of our need for faith.  “and without faith is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  

      So do you find yourself in the same dilemma as Thomas?  Are you doubting Jesus’ death, resurrection  and payment for our sins?  Unfortunately, we can’t see and touch Jesus physically,  but we can feel his Holy Spirit within us and cling to His promises.  Jesus said we are to be blessed for believing and trusting even though we can not see him physically.  Faith is very personal and must be arrived at on your own.  You can not have faith because your mom, dad or grandparents have faith.  Faith in Jesus needs to be personal, one to one, and genuine for His Holy Spirit to indwell us.  We need to ask Him to dwell with us and make himself known to us.  Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ”.

      Have you heard the gospel message that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and rose from the dead?  We are saved by the work of Jesus and redeemed for eternity.  Jesus is the answer.  Just like Thomas we need to encounter the living Jesus  and put our faith and trust in Him.  Will you consider this today?   Maybe you know Jesus yourself and believe, but you know someone who does not know Jesus.  Speak to them boldly today.   We are told in scripture-seek Him and he will be found.  Seek him today.

Consider these scriptures:
Acts 4:12  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 
Romans 10:9  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believer in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 8:9-11  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

      Pray a simple prayer of confession of sin, profess your faith in Jesus that he died and rose from the dead.  Ask Him to come into your life, then you will be free in Christ for eternity.  Seek Him in faith believing that He exists and He will answer you with His indwelling Holy Spirit.

Join me in proclaiming:  “My Lord and “My God!

Blessings,

Linda