The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 3 April 2024 – From Doubt To Faith
TOPIC: From Doubt To Faith
READ: John 20:26-29 (NKJV)
- 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.”
THE MESSAGE:
“After eight days“ means Jesus had this meeting with the disciples, now including Thomas, on the following Sunday. The significance of these two Sunday meetings points to the church’s early practice of meeting together on the first day of the week being Sunday.
Jesus granted Thomas the evidence he asked for instead of imposing the many and reliable witnesses on him. Jesus is full of love and mercy to His people. For Spurgeon,“The whole conversation was indeed a rebuke, but so veiled with love that Thomas could scarcely think it so.”As Disciples of Christ, we should learn to rebuke in love. In moments of doubt, when you want assurance, look to the wounds of Jesus. They’re evidence of His love, His sacrifice, His victory, and His resurrection. Thomas made an immediate transition from declared unbelief to radical belief. That’s what divine presence and manifestation can do and we must desire for that in our fellowships and meetings. Nevertheless, there is a special promised blessing given to those who believe without seeing. Jesus affirms that the testimony of reliable witnesses was evidence enough, and that there’s a blessing for those who accept that sufficient evidence. Will you believe?
PRAYER: Jesus, increase my faith and cause me to believe even when all else is against my faith.
