Faith, Hope, Love, These Three, but the Greatest of These is Love.

Many of us know the story of doubting Thomas.  He would not believe that Jesus was resurrected until he could see Jesus face-to-face and touch his wounds.  John 20:24-26

Thomas, first a disciple, then an apostle, spent three years with Jesus, being taught by Him, being loved by Him, and experiencing God’s miracles through Christ.  Yet, Thomas did not seem to have enough faith to believe what he was told about the resurrected Messiah.  This may have seemed to him, a leap of faith.

A leap of faith conjures images of jumping off a cliff and hoping we will be caught or saved from destruction.  It’s like taking a giant step into the unknown and hoping for the best.  There is no basis or history of trust that the leap of faith will bring us success or happiness.

Like Thomas, we can choose to doubt and to wait to have faith that God does what He says He will do.  Thomas heard the words of Jesus when He said He would conquer death and be resurrected.  Thomas knew the other disciples very well too and yet he didn’t believe them.

Thankfully, our trust in God isn’t a leap of faith.  Jesus said in His prayer to His Father, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.”  (NIV) John 17:6 

We have access to knowing God through the Bible, through the witness of our friends and other Christians, and our own experiences with God.

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”  I Samuel 12:23-24 

As you rely less and less on the witness of friends and family, and more and more on your own experiences of God’s faithfulness, your knowledge of God will grow.  Your faith will mature, and you will be able to trust God as you walk forward in faith with Him.

~ Take it to heart ~

Take a moment to pray that you can believe God enough to trust Him when you know very little of Who He is.

Take a moment to consider and list God’s faithfulness to you in the past.

Take a moment to walk forward in faith with your God.