Monday, November 29

DOUBTING THOMAS -- Genesis 45:26-27

They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.   But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

Jacob heard what his sons said to him - that Joseph was alive, that he was ruler over all of Egypt, that this son that he had thought dead these many years was now rich and powerful and was providing a way of salvation for him and his family from the terrible famine that was sweeping the land.  But Jacob wanted proof.  When his sons first told him this extraordinary news, he didn't believe them.  But the more they talked, and then when they showed him the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, Jacob finally believed.

Jacob was a lot like Thomas, the disciple of Jesus.  While Thomas was away, the resurrected Lord had appeared to the disciples in the upper room.  When Thomas returned and the others told him what had happened, he said, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it."  Thomas must have been from Missouri!  He said, "You've got to show me before I'll believe!"

Do you know a "Thomas"?  Are you one?  Do you find it hard to believe all the things you read in Scripture?  Do you have a difficult time believing - not only in the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, but in the many other miracles that He performs day in and day out all around you?  Do you doubt that everything Scripture says is literally true?  Or do you think that miracles happened only in the Bible, but not today?  If Jesus made the blind to see and the lame to walk, don't you think He's capable of still doing the same thing?  Or do you have to see it to believe it?

One thing is for certain, no matter whether we believe in the power of God or not, it is there.  Whether we believe that Jesus still performs miracles or not, He does.  Whether we believe that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in us or not, He is.  The difference is in the blessings we receive.

"Then Jesus told him (Thomas), 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" John 20:29

From Bonnie Ricks, Newsong Ministries
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