God wants you to become all you were created to be, and that is my prayer for you today! It all begins with belief —  faith in something abstract, something you can’t see. Imagine a picture emerging in your mind that’s not quite crystal clear, but you know what it is. Through Christ’s power, you desire that belief to become a reality. A story of belief is found in John Chapter 20. We read of the disciple Thomas, who is famously known as “Doubting Thomas.” My dislike of the label “doubting” is that he seemed the most courageous, even  braver than Peter. In a previous story, Jesus was on His way to Bethany, and the disciples encouraged Him not to go since they were afraid He would die. Then Thomas said to them, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 

After the crucifixion and resurrection Thomas is out and about, but Jesus appears to His disciples. When Thomas returned the disciples said, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas responded, “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.” There is no doubt that the man is grieving. He has lost both his rabbi and one of his closest friends. He has a hard time accepting it, of course.

Friend, a week later Jesus appears to them and He looks at Thomas. He told him to “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas now believes. Today we are blessed because the Scripture says of you and I that “…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”