Tag Archives: Thomas

Emotionally complex

 

At times I can think that I am brave and at other times the trait is nowhere to be found. Thomas reminds me of that. It was he who was faced with the possibility of dying should they return to Judea to see Lazarus that piped up and said, if we die, we die with him.

Put Thomas in the middle of persecution and somehow he lost a step. He was not in the room when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,[d] was not with them when Jesus came.  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 20:24-25 ESV

I am sure that his moment of bravery and his moment of doubt should not define him. I have moments I am proud of and other moments that I wish I could forget. What I do know is that when I am walking with Jesus, He brings out the best in me and my faith is strong and sure. Conversely, when I am away from Jesus, it triggers doubt.

That is where David went – He knew God was the creator of the world. He knew that it was a foundational truth to rest his faith in. I am sure that as a disciple of Jesus I need to believe who He is as well as what He has done. He has the authority and power to save me because He is omnipotent and omniscient. He spoke and it existed.

Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created. – Psalm 148:5 ESV

I think that is why it is important and powerful to begin and end each day with thanks. In fact, it might be a radical way to live – because being thankful drives me into the world of hurt with a larger sense of hope.

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 148:14 ESV

Where there are disciple-making movements we need to pray. Pray that those involved will delight and find comfort in Christ alone. Pray that there will be no deterring from continuing to fight the good fight. Thomas has been known to have shared the gospel with Persia and then India. In India he was martyred for his faith. Even if I am emotionally complex, in God’s hand I am His purpose for the world I live in and I am so thankful I can be what He wants me to be.

 

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To be an intimate disciple

 

116 Clique – Tedashii – Carry Mine

 

Esther challenges me to prepare myself to be the intimate disciple that God has asked me to be in order that I may carry out His plan and His will.

She has become an example of how to live the obedient life. She did the right thing, made the right decisions, and said the right words.   She moved in faith.

It almost feels that we were able to watch Esther grow up spiritually. I would say that when introduced to her she had a weaker character and by the end of her story she definitely had a heroic moral stature.

I would like to believe that she modelled a disciple’s life by listening to her mentor.

Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her. – Esther 2:10-11  ESV

I get two things out of this – Esther, I am sure, had no way of knowing why her mentor left her these instructions, but she followed them anyway and did not question the intent. The other is the amount of time and energy her mentor put into her life. He was available to her every day. He invested into her life.

Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordeci just as when she was brought up by him. – Esther 2:20  ESV

They ended up working together as a great team accomplishing God’s plan for their day and time. Each had to do their part.

Another model is the disciple Thomas – who does not get much respect – but he laid down his life for Jesus. He was discipled by Jesus and knew what it meant to follow Him.

So Thomas, called the Twin,[b] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” – John 11:16  ESV

Thomas statement here led him to a place where he could lay down his life at anytime for Jesus. He eventually did as he preached the gospel in Persia and India.

Imagine, if we found ourselves in a worship service filled with unrestrained praise to the tune of Psalm 150. Is that not unrelated to Thomas’ move from restrained disciple toward a proclamation of unrestrained praise —

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” – John 20:28  ESV

 

 

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