So the Lord has put the story of Thomas on my heart and has given me huge revelation about him, so I am about to spit dat truf!
So for those that don't know after Jesus was resurrected and walking the earth, a bunch of his disciples had seen him and where telling stories about how they had seen Jesus and he was alive and how stinkin excited they were. (read John 20:24-31 for the whole story). Some disciples came to one of Jesus's disciples named Thomas and told him Jesus was alive, but Thomas said "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my fingers where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe". and forever he got the nickname "Doubting Thomas". Then I started thinking how much each and everyone of us is just like him. So hello, my name is Doubting Jarred and I am going to explain what I think Thomas was saying.
So growing up, I would always hear Jesus stories. I had friends who would tell me about casting out demons and healing the sick and the power of Jesus all the time. My response to those stories was okay that's cool, but what about me? How come I haven't experienced these things with Jesus? I mean good for you and the relationship you have with him, but why hasn't that happened to me? And now I know I was not experiencing Jesus because I wasn't seeking him and I wasn't letting him work through me. I was super doubtful. It wasn't til I hit a breaking point in my life that I cried out to the Lord and his presence dropped on me. At that moment I didn't doubt anymore. I had experienced Jesus's power, his voice, and his peace. And then my life was forever changed!
So when Thomas said what he said, I think the Bible uses him as a comparison of religion and relationship. Was Jesus just a story his friends talked about? Or was he someone real. I can see Thomas saying "I need to experience Jesus so he is real to me" And that is the difference between a religious idea of God and walking in relationship with him. Jesus wants us to have experiences with him! he doesn't want to be a God of the past. He is living in us through the Holy Spirit and wants to walk with us every second of every day!
And what does Jesus do with the doubts of Thomas? He answers them. He walks right up to Thomas and says "wanna know how I got these scars?" okay not really that was the Joker from The Dark Knight, but you get the idea. Jesus revealed himself to Thomas to show that he was there for him. Yes Thomas needed some convincing and Jesus says that blessed is the man who hasn't seen and still believes, but the Lord showed himself to Thomas anyways because he loved him and wanted to give him an encounter. Religion is man trying to do what he can to make it to God, relationship is Jesus coming to us and walking with us every single day and showing us that he truly loves us!
So if you feel like Jesus is just a story and you haven't experienced him fully and you have doubts, ask Jesus to show up in your life. Not out of an arrogant or demanding heart, but humble yourself and the Lord will raise you up! (James 4-10). Lean on the promises of this beautiful love letter Jesus left us (the Bible) and see him show up in your life!
One last story. When I was in Uganda I was in the middle or some random village 5 miles away from town and I ran into 3 ladies who had never heard of Jesus before. So I went through the whole gospel with them and told them all about the love of Jesus and I asked if that was something they would be interested in. They responded "Perhaps". I realized they needed a demonstration of the kingdom so Jesus could be real to them, just like I needed. They knew the story but Jesus wasn't real to them just yet. So I asked if they had any pain I could pray for because Jesus loves to heal his kids and show up. One lady said she had ulcers, one lady had a massive headache, and i think the other lady had something wrong with her stomach, but they didn't speak English and my friend Ben wasn't giving me all the details on what exactly she said. So we prayed.....and all of their sickness went away!!!! So then I asked them again if Jesus was something they would be interested in, and they were like yes yes yes! It wasn't until they experienced the power of God that the story of Jesus became real. And that is why we have the holy spirit, to demonstrated and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth so lives can be changed and Jesus can give people an opportunity to live a life for him. The best life anyone can ever live.
And if you believe in Jesus, and have never experienced him, that's awesome! But I feel the Lord wants to show you what a relationship with him truly looks like and the amazing places he can take you with the power of the Holy Spirit! It's incredible walking out fully into what Jesus has for you! Amazing things happen and his love can change everything in your life!
So when doubts about anything cloud your mind, ask Jesus to show up in those situations and he will! The bible has sooooo many promises in it, and when you speak those promises out and activate your faith, then the Lord will reveal himself. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open. Laters!
No comments:
Post a Comment