2021-04-08
John 20:25 NIV
Some of us have taken the message of Christianity and put it in a box marked “Don’t ask – don’t tell.” Ever feel like you need permission to weep when you lose a loved one? Or feel intimidated about admitting, “I really don’t know for sure?”
The story of doubting Thomas teaches us that not only is it okay to doubt – sometimes it’s necessary! If you don’t, you won’t grow. You’ll wind up with somebody else’s answers, and in many cases they will be inadequate for your questions – even if you’re honest enough to ask them.
Question: Has some well-meaning religious soul pushed you into a corner and tried to make you believe that your questions are an offense to Christ? If so, it’s time to listen anew to the tender words of the One who knows your doubts and fears better than you do: “Peace be with you. Look at my hands and feet. Look with eyes of faith and believe. You are blessed when you believe in spite of your doubts.”
It’s okay to pray, “Lord, like Thomas, I still struggle with some doubts. I haven’t put my life all together yet. Not until I’m with You will that happen. Thank You for accepting me in my struggles, and not ignoring my questions. Thomas finally reached the place where he could say, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Thank You for being patient with me as I strive to reach that place as well.”
So, how do we get through our doubts? Like Thomas! By facing them honestly, bringing them to Jesus, and growing spiritually as a result of them.
Soul food: Lev 13:38-14:57; Mark 1:9-13; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
2021-04-07
John 20:25 NIV
Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection. And like many of us, other people’s experiences weren’t good enough for Thomas – he had to have his own. And Jesus made sure he got it. Note, He didn’t put Thomas down for having doubts. He understood that any question arising from an honest heart isn’t a skeptical question; it’s a search for truth.
The Bible tells us: “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came…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!'” (vv. 26-28 NKJV). We glean two important lessons from this story:
(1) Your doubts can actually lead you to a new level of faith. When the bottom drops out of your world, when the pain of your circumstances seems unbearable, when some shattering event occurs and doubt marches in unannounced, don’t deny it – acknowledge it. Times of doubt become classrooms of learning when they drive you to God for answers. As you work your way through them, you reach a new level of faith.
(2) Your doubts can lead you to a deeper relationship with Jesus. The testimony of others will only carry you so far; ultimately, you need your own personal experience with the Lord. And you can have it! Thomas started out doubting Jesus and ended up dying as a martyr for His cause. Think about that!
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
2021-04-06
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
People who succeed in life set their priorities early and maintain them daily. That way they don’t have to keep reestablishing them. That’s a good idea for two reasons:
(1) It takes the emotion out of it. If you’re not careful, you can make a life-altering decision based on a temporary situation rather than God’s will. Or worse, base your decisions on your feelings! By establishing your life’s priorities before you have to, you can do it without your emotions manipulating and controlling you. Plus, you’re more likely to set them with integrity. Joshua did that: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(2) It makes managing your life easier. Once you nail down what’s important to you, you can live based on those principles. Let’s say you’re a compulsive gambler and you decide to quit. Your task then becomes ordering your life in light of that decision. That probably means not hanging out at the racetrack or vacationing on the Strip in Las Vegas. Or, say you want to build a better marriage: that may mean spending less time at work or on the golf course, and planning a weekly date night with your spouse.
It takes honesty, born in prayer, to know what your real issues are and to make good decisions accordingly. And it takes character and perseverance to follow through once those decisions are made. The great thing is that once you decide, then “commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT). He will give you the strength each day to live by your decisions.
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Matt 28:16-20; Ps 72:12-20; Prov 9:7-9
2021-04-05
Revelation 2:5 CEV
Addressing the Ephesian church, Jesus said: “I know everything you have done, including your hard work and how you have endured. I know you won’t put up with anyone who is evil….You have endured and gone through hard times because of me, and…not given up. But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don’t have as much love as you used to. Think about where you have fallen from…then turn back and do as you did at first” (vv. 2-5 CEV).
Think back to your early days as a Christian. Remember how excited you got when you talked about the Lord. Remember how you spent time each day in prayer, and left His presence strengthened. You couldn’t get enough of His Word. It was filled with fresh insights that thrilled your soul and challenged you to go deeper with Him. You never missed an opportunity to talk to others about the Lord. Your walk with Him was consistent, fulfilling, and the pivotal point of your life.
What happened? Have you reached the same point in your life as the Ephesian Christians Jesus was speaking to? If so, understand that God won’t interrupt your busy schedule or accelerate His pace to catch up with you. No, you must slow down in order to get back in step with Him. He can’t be conveniently fitted into the framework of your complicated life; you must choose to put Him first, and keep Him there. Today the Lord may be speaking these words to you: “Think about where you have fallen from…then turn back and do as you did at first.”
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 9:1-6
2021-04-04
Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV
Aesop, the famed fable author, said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, ever is wasted.” As one pastor writes, “It costs to be unkind, but it pays to be kind.”
Now, being kind doesn’t mean tolerating wrong or refusing to confront a problem in order to be politically correct. Sometimes we must confront. But it should always be done in a gracious way. A calm demeanor will go a lot further than a harsh comment or an ugly tone of voice. You can make your point with a kind spirit, and even a sense of humor.
Don’t be like the guy who was standing in line to buy an airline ticket. When he reached the counter, he said, “I’d like to purchase a ticket to New York City.” The agent said, “No problem, how many pieces of luggage do you have?” The passenger replied, “I have three.” The agent asked, “Would you like me to check all three to New York?” The guy replied, “No, I want to send the first bag to Phoenix, the second to Seattle, and the third to London.” Dumbfounded, the clerk looked at him and said, “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t do that.” The man smiled and said, “I don’t see why not; that’s what you did last week.”
You will always make your point more effectively with a butter knife than a butcher knife. Remember: “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” If you’re serious about living by the teachings of God’s Word, today try to be gracious.
Soul food: Num 19-21; Mark 6:30-44; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
John 20:7 NLT
In Bible days when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence – a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a job, he took off his apron, folded it up, and set it on his finished work, signifying the job was complete.
With that picture in mind, read this: “Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved….Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead” (vv. 1-9 NLT).
Note the words “the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up.” The master carpenter had finished the job. Our salvation was complete. You don’t have to work to be saved, you only have to put your trust in Christ, and your sins are forgiven and your place in heaven assured.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10
