Daily Devotions
Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28
Doubt is often close to faith, as is rust to the finest steel. The psalmist momentarily doubted God’s goodness to him when he “saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3). The father of a demon-possessed child confessed to Jesus that he moved between two opposite poles: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (see Mark 9:24). Doubt often shakes the confidence we should have when we pray. So Saint Paul wants us to lift up our hands in prayer without wrath and doubting (see 1 Timothy 2:8).
Doubt, along with outright denial, is part of the Easter story. At the mountaintop meeting in Galilee the disciples worshiped the risen Christ present there, “but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17).
Doubt afflicted Thomas especially. Weighed down with grief, 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” (John 20:25). To lay down a condition (“unless”) is to declare incipient unbelief. To predicate truth on the sight test and touch test is to leave out faith entirely.
The risen Lord changed the heart of Thomas by ministering to him. He conferred His peace on him. He urged him; “Be not faithless, but believing” (see John 20:27). And Thomas confessed, “My Lord and My God!”
Some who are Christians today had to make the transition from doubt to firm faith. They may have had problems with the miracles recorded in the Bible, or with Christ’s virgin birth, or with His resurrection from the dead. But as they searched the Scriptures diligently, they gained new perspectives. Christ became real to them as one who lives today. The Holy Spirit entered their hearts and said, “Let Me introduce you to Jesus, your Friend and Savior. He is for real.” Then they were convinced and exclaimed, each personally: “My Lord and My God!”
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus for sending Your Holy Spirit into my heart to grant me strong faith. Amen.
(Devotions from “With Jesus Every Day” copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)