WRITTEN FOR OUR DAILY BREAD 8/12/12 BY: Dennis Fisher
Can a believer in Jesus who has occasional doubts about matters of faith ever be effective in serving the Lord? Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs. But just as we have experiences that can build our faith, we can also have experiences that cause us to temporarily doubt.
The disciple Thomas had initial doubts about reports of Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Christ did not rebuke Thomas but showed him the evidence he asked for. Amazed at seeing the risen Savior, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (20:28). After this incident, the New Testament is silent about what happened to Thomas.
A number of early church traditions, however, claim that Thomas went to India as a missionary. It is said that while there he preached the gospel, worked miracles, and planted churches. Some of these churches in India still have active congregations that trace their founding back to Thomas.
A time of doubt doesn’t have to become a life pattern. Allow God to lead you into a deeper understanding of His reality. Renew your faith. You can still accomplish great things for Him.
When faith grows weak and doubts arise,
Recall God’s love and tender care;
Remind yourself of all He’s done
And of those times He answered prayer. —D. De Haan
Learn to doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.
READ: John 20:24-31
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
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.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
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.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 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.
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Sir, I want to address this statement: "Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs." Mature believers do not question their beliefs. The very nature of Christian maturity is that beliefs are believed and no longer questioned; otherwise, the definition of maturity must be altered. However, growing Christians may question their beliefs because they have not yet reached spiritual maturity. One of the tragedies among Christians today is that a definition of maturity is about as fluid as a free-flowing stream. In addition, it is not uncommon for many Christians to believe that Christian maturity is a goal to be sought, but never reached in this life. Not so. God the Father has established this goal and provided the means of reaching it. If the Christian doesn't reach Christian maturity it is the fault of the Christian, not God's fault.
The ‘test’ is for us to see that we have matured in faith and relationship with HIM and are ready to “go in deeper and further” (The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis)
A man who does not ever have doubts is a man who does not question all things, and such a man is more inclined to fall for never having doubts overturned, and truth reinforced in this.
If we have no questions, do we actually seek God, and His Truths? I say not, because we come from the world, and come to faith by learning, and this is by the Word of God, and we must choose “the word of man” or “the Word of God”, because both have been imparted to us.
Without choice, we cannot choose faith and God. Without choice, we are mere mindless tools, and cannot walk with a Creator. Because we have choice, we can Walk with God, and because we can also walk with evil, we will falter, and if we believe, we will pick ourselves back up, and kneel back before God and get back to right.
God Bless you in The Word, and with your family both your natural family, and the many who follow your words spoken out of faith in God.
With Gratitude,
John McClain
Vanceboro, NC
john mcclain: I heard the pastor of the Myerstown Grace Brethren Church say nearly 30 yrs ago that “If you question before you believe, you’ll always doubt”…when you stop and really think about what he is saying I find it to be true…you must first believe to embrace God’s free gift of salvation…
St. Matthew 13:1-9
bus griffith: amen…