Be Thomas!

Thomas is pretty much the coolest name of all time.  It's my middle name, it's my Dads name and it's my awesome nephews name!  However, in the book of John, Thomas the apostle doesn't look so awesome when he doubts Jesus's resurrection.

John Chapter 20:24-29

4But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." ²⁶After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." ²⁸Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Traditionally, most people look at this passage and read that Thomas doubted and we should have strong faith without seeing God.  SPOILER ALERT, that's not what I'm gonna be writing about! 

I wanna Challenge you guys to be more like Thomas!  " BUT KEVIN HOW CAN I BE MORE LIKE THOMAS?? " - Joe the Junior Higher. 

Wow, I'm glad you asked!

Okay, now hear me out before you stop reading.  Ideally in the story Thomas should have listened to the rest of the disciples and simply believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.  But Thomas wanted to know for sure, he wanted to touch Jesus.  I want to challenge you guys to do the same thing.  Now a days we don't have the opportunity to physically see Jesus.  We can't actually touch the wounds in his hands or his side.  We can however have a personal relationship with him and that can be just as real as feeling his palms.

Don't be satisfied by what people tell you about Jesus.  Experience him for yourselves; pick up a bible, go serve in his name, pray for and love others.  As a junior higher it is important for you to start taking hold of your own faith, you can't just rely on other people to be your only informational source about Christ.

Pray, Ask God to help you experience him and allow you to believe because you have felt him.  Ask him to help you in the areas in your life where you find yourself doubting.

*****BE THOMAS*****

-KTC