Believe

“Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” John 2:27

We could read this as, “Do not perish in your unbelief, but believe.” Let us put ourselves in Saint Thomas’ shoes, or as he is most commonly called, “Doubting Thomas”. When he was told by the disciples that they had seen Jesus, he adamantly proclaimed the famous line, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 

Thomas was not at the crucifixion but he certainly heard all the gruesome details from an eyewitness. The imprint of the nails, and the piercing of the sword at the side of Jesus became so concrete to him, that not even the testimony of the disciples that they saw the risen Lord, convinced him that Jesus was alive! How about us? What keeps us from believing in the power of Jesus to change lives and hearts, transform circumstances for our good and perform miracles? 

In Matthew 13:58, we see that Jesus was not able to perform many miracles in His hometown because His neighbors were skeptical. Perhaps we are too much like Jesus’ neighbors. We grew up with all the Bible stories. They are too familiar to us. We are not new believers, excited and eager to delve deeper into the Word, to dig into the truth.  

How do we get out of this mindset? I think it is as easy as asking Jesus to reveal Himself in a new way to us. Just as Jesus showed Himself to Thomas, and said, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” 

If we just open up a little, and allow Jesus in, He will meet us where we are. 

Blessed and Rejoicing

"Blessed are you who believed..." 

Luke 1:45

There are many passages to reflect on in Mary's Magnificat, the song about how God fulfilled His promise to Mary and to His people throughout generations and generations. Indeed Mary, the mother of Jesus would have plenty to ponder but she chose instead to focus on God and His mighty deeds. She is blessed because she trusted that God's words spoken through an angel would be fulfilled. She is blessed because she has not seen the fulfillment of God's promise but she is already proclaiming, confessing, that all ages to come shall call her blessed. It's like she has a bubbling brook of joy gushing forth from her being. She cannot help it. She has to thank God and say, yes, You have done great things for me!

How about us? What do we think about? Do we spend most of our time stewing over hurts? Do we go over and over again the times people have said mean things to us? Do we spend more times complaining about our problems and challenges and too little time focusing on what God has done and will do in our life? There is a fountain of joy waiting to gush forth from us if only we seek to dwell by God's side and not wallow in the squatter's hut. What are the amazing things our Father has in store for us? Like Mary, let us meditate on that!