Scripture: John 20: 28-29

²⁸ “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Scripture Commentary:

What would have happened to Thomas had he not seen the resurrected Jesus Christ for himself? Christ was not hard on Thomas for his doubts. Some people need to doubt before they believe.

A doubt is a form of a question, and a question needs an answer. When we seek the answer, we will find it. This is a good process.

Thomas still believed Jesus was the Messiah. His problem was that he did not fully understand Jesus’s teachings when Jesus said that he must die and in 3 days he would be resurrected.

Do not let doubt become a road block and stubborness become a lifestyle – that harms our faith, making us a candidate for Satan. We do not have to see a miracle or a physical appearance to believe in God. We have His Word, the Bible, to help in our walk of faith. Just study the Gospels to understand the life and mission of Jesus.

Thomas is a good example of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus is as real now as he was then. A physical appearance will not make him any more real to you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 20

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

You Can Depend on Jesus to Make You Whole

Jesus Offers You Living Water to Slack Your Thirst

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12: 5-7

⁵ And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: ⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. ⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Scripture Commentary:

How does this story of David’s sin against God and God’s judgment apply to you and me today? We do sinful things in life and point to others without looking in the mirror at ourselves. We judge, compare, evaluate and pass judgment.

David did a sinful act but it took Nathan, with God’s direction, to present it in a way so David had no way of denying the sin against God. Likewise, we go about commiting sin and are in denial of what we do.

We have a Nathan in our lives who is all powerful for it is Jesus Christ.

We can lie to ourselves but we cannot lie to God. He has placed His Holy Spirit in each of us, and His Spirit records our rights and wrongs.

David faced his sin and asked God to forgive him. Our prayers asking for forgiveness help. We are not perfect; we will make mistakes. God knows this. When we pray to Him for forgiveness, He forgives us because He loves us. This doesn’t mean that we will not have to pay for our sin, but God will forgive. David had to account for his sin. (Read Psalm 51 for reference.)

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

2 Samuel 12

Psalm 51

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 2 Samuel:

God Is the Shield of My Salvation

God Is My Rock, Fortress and Deliverer

Scripture: John 10: 7, 9, 14

⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus opens the door for all.

Jesus says, “I am the door…” Jesus opened the door for all of us when he placed himself on the cross and died for our sins. This gave us entry into God, the Father’s kingdom.

We will go through many doors in this life but the most important door is the one we will enter when our life on earth ends.

Can you hear Jesus’s voice or are you listening to another voice?

When Jesus says my flock hears my voice, it means that those who have repented and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior know his voice. Those who have not accepted him do not know what his voice sounds like.

Verse 16 tells us there are other sheep not part of the original flock who also are his. Jesus came to the Jews first so they could go into the world and spread the Gospel. Then Jesus opened the door to let in the Gentiles, who also are the sheep of his flock.

Jesus has his door wide open so the entire universe has the opportunity to come in.

Jesus committed his life and his love to us. What have you committed to him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 10

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

God Has Prepared a Place for You

Do You Know the Gift of God?

Scripture: Psalm 73: 1-3, 12, 17

¹ Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. ³ For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ¹² This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. ¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Scripture Commentary:

Sometimes when we stand on the corner of our lives, we desire what man has placed before us. Money, houses, jewlery … all the wealth and desires of our heart. We may be in the company of people who have the wealth we wish to have. We think that if we could only have a portion – or all of these things – we will be happy.

But the question is this: If you had all these things, what would you do with it?

Would you help the ‘have nots’ or keep it all to yourself and not share? Can you take it with you when death knocks on your door? Or can you present it to God?

There are two themes in the verses above. First, the wicked prospers on earth and people wonder why they should be good. Second, the wealthy and wicked look good and the people wish to trade places with them.

Luke 16: 19-31 recounts the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In death the rich man realizes that his wealth is worthless.

God’s gift to us is His Son, Jesus Christ. He gives us a choice: accept and follow Him or follow the road of earthly devastation and damnation. What path are you on? Is it the path to God’s kingdom and glory or hell in a basket?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 73

Luke 16

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Idols Cannot Speak, See, Hear or Help You

Teach Me Lord, and Order My Steps In Your Word