18/8/09        CHOOSING TO BELIEVE      

 Scripture – John 20:27 “Do not be unbelieving but believing”

 Observation – Jesus is speaking to Thomas who has said he wouldn’t believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Him and the nail prints in His hands and feet and the wound in His side and could reach in his hand and feel them. Thomas has chosen to live by his senses. Jesus makes it clear he wants us to choose to believe. There is indication here that belief or unbelief is in some way a choice.  We can choose to believe and should be choosing to believe God’s words in spite of our senses.

 Application – When it comes to believing there are two parts – Gods and ours. Faith comes from hearing but then we choose to believe it – adhere to it, hold fast to it. If it is in God’s word and is relevant to us we should choose to believe it and not doubt it. Confession is an important part of this process as is action. If we choose to believe we should confess that belief and if possible act on our faith – faith without works is dead.

 Prayer – Lord, I choose to believe that your word is truth and no matter what I see, hear, feel, or smell I choose to believe. Help me, Lord!