April 14 - Determined Doubt.

John 20:29
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
 
After He arose, Jesus appeared until His disciples several times. 
 
He once stood in the midst of ten, and Thomas was not there. When he heard that Jesus had came, he chose not to believe since he had not seen Jesus himself.
 
John 20:25
“The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
 
Many people today have also chosen not to believe, simply because they cannot see Jesus themselves. Thomas went so far as to say four of the saddest words in all of Scripture…”I will not believe”.
 
He was determined in his disbelief.
 
How many times in our lives have we refused to believe something simply because we did not witness it ourselves?
 
There is no faith in determined doubt. 
 
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
 
Faith in only that which is seen is a lack of faith.
The Bible is very clear on what that brings.
 
Romans 14:23
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
 
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
 
Jesus explained this same Truth to Thomas after he finally believed after he had Him. 
 
Thomas’ story is written within the pages of the The Gospel According To John so that we may read them and believe. 
 
John 20:30-31
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
 
Seeing Jesus through the pages of the Word of God is a matter of faith. 
Faith is what pleases God. 
 
Faith in salvation, yes, but we must have faith in every aspect of our lives as we walk with the Lord. 
 
Romans 1:17
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
 
How is your faith today?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Joshua 18-19   |    Acts 16