Scripture
26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:26
Observation
Jesus is talking about me! That’s what hit me this morning. I woke up this morning, dropped to my knees, surrendering my day to my Savior without a doubt in my mind that He would hear me. I showed up to Life Group and opened His Word without a doubt that He would speak to me. Then, these words in red jumped off the page to my soul, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” Belief in God leads to blessing from God. The word for blessed means to be supremely fortunate and perpetually well off. This is incredible! I woke up a blessed man this morning simply for believing in a God I’ve never seen. I’ve felt His presence, I’ve seen the effects of His moving in my life, His healing in myself and others, sensed His leading throughout my life, heard His still small voice, but I’ve never seen Him. Jesus is calling me blessed this morning and every single day I get up and continue to believe that He is real and true. I don’t have to see His scars today to know that one day I will see them with my own eyes in the resurrection. I don’t have to put my hand in His side to know that He will never leave my side.
Application
More often than not I relate with Thomas when it comes to doubting God even though all evidence points to the proof that He is infinitely trustworthy. Living the blessed life is not a bumper sticker faith, positive thinking, or “name it, claim it” mumbo jumbo. Living the blessed life doesn’t mean life isn’t going to be incredibly challenging, completely overwhelming, or massively frustrating. Living the blessed life means I believe my Savior is with me no matter what is going on around me. Living the blessed life is only possible when our belief is not predicated upon our circumstances but on the unchanging abiding presence of Jesus. I serve a Savior who conquered sin, death, and hell through His sacrifice on the Cross. I serve a Savior who was raised from the dead on the third day and then took the time to track down those He loved. They were hiding and afraid. He walked through their false security and spoke true peace into their souls. I don’t know that there has been a time in my life when my faith has been more tested. Simultaneously, I don’t know that there has been a time when I have been more certain of His presence. I’m living the blessed life today, not because everything is perfect, but because I’m facing all of these present challenges in the presence of my Savior. I can't see Jesus but I know Him. Isn't that the very definition of faith in the first place? "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
Prayer
Thank You for thinking of me on the Cross. Thank You for thinking of me in the Resurrection. Thank You for thinking of me and this moment right here when I needed to be reminded through Your Word of what it means to blessed by You! To be with You is to be blessed by You is to know that one day I will see You face to face. I don’t need to see you to know You are real and really leading me through these labyrinthine challenges ahead.
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