John 20: 28-29
28 Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
29 Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Judas doubted, betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. Thomas doubted, demanded proof, touched and felt, and bowed in faith. Faith is a journey. Some paint that journey as an in-out decision made in a spiritual moment. You believe or you don’t. For many, though, it is a process. Are we moving towards God, asking our questions as we seek a relationship to which we bow and build a life around? The question is whether we are moving toward God, seeking him, or running from him, denying the truth of Jesus’ identity. Another way I’ve heard it explained is faith by “management” or “mystery.” Management keeps track of our sins and the facts of Jesus where as mystery enjoys an unfolding journey of a deepening relationship that gets “sweet.” Each person in that room at Easter had to deal with fear, with doubt and with the realities of life on the other side of the locked door.
We all have a locked door to keep our fears out. Some of us will see Jesus clearly and be blessed. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Some of us will have visions, speak in tongues and touch the divine but many days we plod along clinging to our faith, believing because we know he is real in the midst of the chaos of the world. May we not be guilty of doubting in the night what was revealed in the day!
Let us use our devotional time this morning to thank God for the ways he has blessed our lives and shown himself real. Focus on the words, “Lord” and “God.” What does that mean to you? Thank you Lord for appearing and inviting me to touch and feel as you speak into my reality, today!
On the Way to Wonder 