NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

December 4

Scripture focus: But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master." But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe." Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. John 20:24-31 The Message

People love to tell me about their locked doors. Strangers stop me in parking lots and say things like, "I know you're one of those people who talks about God stuff. But I think you're nuts. There is no God."

These one-way conversations make me think. Recently, while I was trying to haul a load of heavy boxes to my car in the pouring rain I had one of these conversations. It is probably spiritually-impolite for a minister to suggest that at the moment when that angry lady shared with me her unbelief, I was much less concerned about her eternal salvation and far more distracted wondering whether my back was going to hold out while I stood there listening, burdened down with the weight of boxes filled with my daughter's possessions.

Please continue reading before you judge me. One of the reasons I don't find myself flustered by unbelief, doubting and even the occasional slam on God is because of John 20 -– it says, "Jesus came through the locked doors."

Jesus is not flustered by our doubts.

Jesus is not overwrought by our doubts.

Jesus walked through the limitations of Thomas' doubts, and said, "Peace to you." He didn't chastise or challenge, condemn or coerce.

Praise God – from whom all blessings flow.

We can trust God with even our messy truths and even the occasional sore back.

Recommended reading: Hosea 6 - 10

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