How can we apply Thomas's confession to strengthen our personal faith journey? Setting the Scene • After Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas had declared he would not believe without seeing the wounds (John 20:25). • Eight days later, the risen Lord appears, invites Thomas to touch His scars, and Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). • This is the clearest confession of Jesus’ deity from any disciple recorded in the Gospels. Why Thomas’s Confession Matters • Declares Jesus as both Sovereign (“Lord”) and Divine (“God”). • Moves from skepticism to surrender, showing that doubt can lead to deeper faith when met by Christ’s revelation. • Provides a verbal template for personal allegiance and worship. Key Takeaways for Our Faith Journey 1. Personal Encounter Precedes Personal Confession – Faith grows when we respond to Christ’s self-revelation in Scripture (Romans 10:17). – Like Thomas, we meet Him through His Word and the Spirit’s witness (John 14:26). 2. Confession Anchors Belief – “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart…you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). – Speaking truth reinforces inward conviction; declare aloud who Jesus is. 3. Doubt Can Be Redirected, Not Denied – Jesus doesn’t shame Thomas; He answers the honest struggle (Jude 22). – Bring uncertainties to God, expecting Him to reveal Himself through Scripture and providence. 4. Worship Follows Revelation – Thomas moves instantly from evidence to adoration. – Cultivate a reflex of worship whenever you glimpse Christ’s glory (Revelation 5:12). 5. Blessed Faith Without Sight – Jesus responds, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). – Our era enjoys that promised blessing, trusting the inspired eyewitness record (1 Peter 1:8-9). Practical Ways to Apply Thomas’s Confession • Start each day by audibly declaring, “My Lord and my God,” acknowledging Christ’s authority over every area of life. • When reading Scripture, pause to voice agreement with revealed truths about Jesus’ deity and lordship. • Memorize John 20:28 and recite it when facing temptation, anxiety, or doubt, re-centering on who Jesus is. • Share your confession publicly—baptism, testimony, casual conversation—strengthening both your faith and others’ (Matthew 10:32). • Keep a “Lord and God” journal: note daily ways Jesus shows His sovereignty and divinity in answered prayer, guidance, and providence. Supporting Verses to Reinforce the Confession • John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” • Colossians 2:9 – “For in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily.” • Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” • Revelation 1:17-18 – The risen Christ identifies Himself as “the First and the Last…alive forevermore.” Daily Action Plan 1. Read John 20:24-31 and meditate on Thomas’s journey. 2. Confess Christ’s lordship aloud. 3. Worship through a song that exalts Jesus as God. 4. Record one way you trusted Him unseen today. By adopting Thomas’s simple yet profound confession, we continually realign our hearts to the living, sovereign, divine Christ—and experience the blessing promised to all who believe without seeing. |
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