John 20:24-25
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” – John 20:25
The yesterday we rejoiced with the disciples as they encountered the risen Lord and were sent out after receiving the mission of being witnesses of his resurrection. The first person who heard these eyewitness reports was Thomas, who wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the rest of them. No matter how many firsthand eyewitness testimonies he heard, Thomas was adamant. Unless he saw with his own eyes and touched with his own hands, he wouldn’t believe.
We might have encountered such friends, too. It’s not that we haven’t shared with them what God has done in our lives. We have tried many times to witness to them. But there are some who say, “That’s great for you. But I won’t believe it unless I go through it, until I experience it myself.”
How do we respond to that? The first thing is not to be discouraged. It’s natural for everyone to want to make decisions based our own experiences.
Second, I would ask the Holy Spirit to help me discern whether this friend actually wants to experience God or is just making excuses not to believe. We know that encounters with God is not limited to just Christians. God in his grace meets with even those still in unbelief in order that they may come to faith. So if I sense that my friend actually desires to meet with God and isn’t being dismissive, I would encourage them: “If you really want to experience God, we can ask Him to meet with you, to help you experience his presence and love. These experiences aren’t just for Christians.”
Finally, I would end off with a short prayer for them if they’re open. It’s okay if they say no to the prayer. We can still encourage them to simply say this short prayer when they are ready, even if they’re by themselves, even if it’s silently in their hearts, “God, I want to know. Please come meet with me.”
Maybe some of us, even as Christians, are experiencing doubts and uncertainty about God, his existence, goodness, or power. You want to experience God in a real or a fresh way. Don’t wait anymore. Say this short prayer in your heart now: “God, I want to know you. Please reveal yourself to me in ways I can understand.”
God revealed himself to Moses on Mt Sinai, to Gideon through his fleece test. He gave us his word and his own Spirit to testify to us about him. We only need to turn our hearts to him, and God in his mercy will show us that he’s been right there the whole time, carrying us through this difficult time.
Prayer:
Father, even when we were in our sin, you took the initiative to reach out and save us. Even before we knew you, you first loved us. Thank you for always meeting us where we are. Help us become more aware of your love and presence in our lives. Help us see how you’re working in our lives, drive away our fear and doubt, and increase our faith. In the name of our risen Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
The yesterday we rejoiced with the disciples as they encountered the risen Lord and were sent out after receiving the mission of being witnesses of his resurrection. The first person who heard these eyewitness reports was Thomas, who wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the rest of them. No matter how many firsthand eyewitness testimonies he heard, Thomas was adamant. Unless he saw with his own eyes and touched with his own hands, he wouldn’t believe.
We might have encountered such friends, too. It’s not that we haven’t shared with them what God has done in our lives. We have tried many times to witness to them. But there are some who say, “That’s great for you. But I won’t believe it unless I go through it, until I experience it myself.”
How do we respond to that? The first thing is not to be discouraged. It’s natural for everyone to want to make decisions based our own experiences.
Second, I would ask the Holy Spirit to help me discern whether this friend actually wants to experience God or is just making excuses not to believe. We know that encounters with God is not limited to just Christians. God in his grace meets with even those still in unbelief in order that they may come to faith. So if I sense that my friend actually desires to meet with God and isn’t being dismissive, I would encourage them: “If you really want to experience God, we can ask Him to meet with you, to help you experience his presence and love. These experiences aren’t just for Christians.”
Finally, I would end off with a short prayer for them if they’re open. It’s okay if they say no to the prayer. We can still encourage them to simply say this short prayer when they are ready, even if they’re by themselves, even if it’s silently in their hearts, “God, I want to know. Please come meet with me.”
Maybe some of us, even as Christians, are experiencing doubts and uncertainty about God, his existence, goodness, or power. You want to experience God in a real or a fresh way. Don’t wait anymore. Say this short prayer in your heart now: “God, I want to know you. Please reveal yourself to me in ways I can understand.”
God revealed himself to Moses on Mt Sinai, to Gideon through his fleece test. He gave us his word and his own Spirit to testify to us about him. We only need to turn our hearts to him, and God in his mercy will show us that he’s been right there the whole time, carrying us through this difficult time.
Prayer:
Father, even when we were in our sin, you took the initiative to reach out and save us. Even before we knew you, you first loved us. Thank you for always meeting us where we are. Help us become more aware of your love and presence in our lives. Help us see how you’re working in our lives, drive away our fear and doubt, and increase our faith. In the name of our risen Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.