Bible Reading: Numbers 18-19; Matthew 28:11-20
“The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” – John 20:25 KJV
God gave us our minds and with our minds, we can make decisions. This is why we are free moral beings we can choose. We can choose what to believe. Thomas chose not to believe the Words of the other disciples concerning the resurrection. Like a secular person, facts seemed to appeal more to him than the reality of the risen Christ. He said, “… unless I personally see the wounds of the nails in his hands, touch them with my finger, and put my hand into the wound of his side where he was pierced… I will not believe it.” I want you to notice that it was a conscious decision he made not to believe.
You might say, “Well Thomas is not to blame because seeing is believing!”, that is not all true because there are things that you have not seen but you believe. You have not seen your heart before but you believe you have one. In the same way, I might not have been there the day that Jesus rose from the dead but I choose to believe that He died and rose for me. 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
Jesus said to Thomas, “…because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” John 20:29. When you choose to believe that Jesus is alive and your faith is established in what He has accomplished for you, Jesus calls you blessed. You are blessed because you believe and to be blessed means you are empowered to prosper in everything that you do.
Even if the situations around your life look negative, I want to encourage you to choose to believe that Jesus is alive. If He conquered death then nothing can conquer you. Choose to believe His Word and you will receive the power to increase and prosper in every area of your life.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for chosen to believe Your Word and having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pst Alfred Samuel