JESUS SPEAKING
Then Thomas, called the twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in to the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20: 24-29.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Thomas had seen Jesus walk on water, heal the sick, and raise the dead. And yet, when several disciples claimed to have seen the Lord after his crucifixion, Thomas’ faith wavered. Accordingly, he professed that his doubts would persist until he had encountered the resurrected Messiah; at which time, he would need to examine the physical wounds for himself. Shortly thereafter, Jesus appeared and invited Thomas to touch His lacerations. The doubting disciple promptly glorified God and expressed the renewal of his faith. In response, Jesus uttered an enduring truth. The strongest faith a person can possess is simple and requires no proof. Those who believe without seeing are the nearest to God.
As the story goes, one night a mother and her daughter were preparing to retire for the evening. The Child was afraid of the dark. When the light was extinguished, the girl caught a glimpse of the moon through her window. “Mother,” she asked; “is the moon God’s light?” “Yes,” said the mother. The little girl continued, “Will God put out His light and go to sleep?” “No my child,” responded the woman, “God never goes to sleep.” Then, out of the simplicity of her child-like faith the girl concluded, “Well, as long as God is awake, there is no sense in both of us staying up.”
Childlike faith is the most powerful form of belief; it requires no miracles, or signs or wonders. But rather, it consists of a complete trust in God; in His words, His deeds, and His promises. Although His works can be easily observed today, after His ascension into heaven, no living human being, except the apostle John, has ever seen Christ. Still, those of us who believe possess a faith that is solid and unwavering. We know Him, because He lives inside us. We would do well to continue in our faith without the need for more evidence or intellectual affirmation.
“Lord Father, we are Your children. We believe, not because of what we have seen, but because of who You are. You alone are worthy of our trust; You alone carry the truth. We accept Your words and promises without the need for proof, because You are alive within our hearts, and we are one with You. May we always possess a child-like faith. We love You Father, we praise you, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 