Video:  “God Is Enough” by Christian Rapper, Lacrae.

 

John 20:25 (KJV)

“Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 

These were the words of the man known to all Sunday School children as “Doubting Thomas.” We shake our heads at Thomas under the assumption that we would have done better. Thomas was not a coward. We see this through the words he spoke before the crucifixion, when Jesus decided to return to Judea to see about Lazarus, who had died.

Concerned for Jesus’ safety because of the threats and enmity of the Jews, Thomas wanted Jesus to keep a low profile. But when Jesus let the disciples know that he was indeed going to Judea despite the danger, Thomas told the other disciples: “…Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11: 16)

Yet despite his courage, after the crucifixion of Jesus, Thomas found himself hiding and disoriented just like the others. So when Jesus appeared to the other disciples after the resurrection, blessing them with the gift of the Holy Spirit, they excitedly told the absent Thomas that they had seen the risen Savior. It was then that Thomas told them defiantly that: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Jesus, ever patient and compassionate, appeared later to Thomas and granted his wish. We can imagine that Thomas’ hands trembled as he inserted his fingers into the wound in Jesus’ side. We can imagine that Thomas had been in a place of darkest disappointment, crushed hopes confusion and spiritual pain. Yet Jesus sought him out, and gave him the proof he demanded. Afterwards Jesus said to him: “…Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  John 20:29 (KJV)

The words “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” are talking about us, right here in the 21st Century, all those who came before, and will come after us. Hallelujah!!

But think about it. How many times have we like Thomas said: “Except I see…I-will-not-believe.”

Do we test the Lord when we are worried about our health by saying in our hearts “except I feel better or get healed, I will not believe.” Or if we fail to get a job or another is promoted waaaaayyyyy ahead of us, do we say “except I am treated fairly, I will not believe.” If we hit hard times despite having given money consistently to the church do we say “except the Lord bless me financially, I will not believe.”

How many Christians use their moments of doubt and impatience as an excuse to do things their way? How many business men and women start to lie and cheat to save money because they don’t trust that the Lord will prosper their businesses? How many young Christian men and women give into pressure and start to indulge in drugs and premarital or extra marital sex because they think the Lord is taking too long to provide them with a mate or a satisfying peer group? When the heat is on (and the Lord’s kitchen is indeed HOT!), what do you do?

Regardless of circumstances and levels of need, the Lord expects us to wait on Him. It is written:

Psalm 37:7 
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

When the Apostle Paul was suffering from a “thorn in the flesh” he asked the  Lord three times to remove it. The Lord did not take it away. His response to Paul was this:

2 Corinthians 12:9
  …My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I used to dread the “My grace is sufficient” response of God. Foolishly and secretly,  felt that it was a hand-me-down blessing, something that the Lord was giving me because he didn’t have anything better to give me. If I hand ended my prayers with “and Lord, don’t be givin’ me that grace is sufficient thing. I ain’t wanna hear that” I would have been saying what I really felt but didn’t want to say. What a wicked and foolish thought! As if there is anything better than the grace of God. My question to you then, is this: Is there anything greater than the grace of God?

Is there any good thing that is not first of His grace? If it were not for His grace, where would you (we) be? Jesus went back to give Thomas the very proof he had demanded as a condition for belief. Do we demand the same? Do we lose faithfulness when we don’t get what we want when we want it, but are told by the Lord that His grace is sufficient? Is God enough for you? Will we choose to believe even God when we cannot see His blessing and don’t understand (and therefore do not appreciate) how we are already blessed? Remember  what Jesus said: “…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  John 20:29 says:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Reflection: Knowing that I do not always see and appreciate the blessings of the Lord, and that I don’t always know that His grace is at all times sufficient (indeed, more than sufficient!), what then is my prayer??

My prayer is this: Lord forgive me for my tunnel vision. Forgive me for clinging to my will and wishes and looking at this world as the standard for my blessings from You. Forgive me Lord! Have mercy, Lord! For I have scorned the sufficiency of your grace and demanded to thrust my hands into your wounds. Forgive me for refusing to believe. Lord help me to treasure your grace with all my mind, body and soul. May you ever be my all and all. Help me to know that your grace is sufficient and You are more than enough for me. This I ask in Jesus’ precious and mighty name. Amen, and Amen!!

Until next time: Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might!

Your friend in Christ,

Verneda

Twitter handle: @vlights

© 2011 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.

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Video “God Is Enough” by Christian Rapper Lacrae was originally posted on Youtube.com by  Conqueror837 on Nov 7, 2010

Verneda Lights and E-graphX Omnimedia have no ownership of this video. It is used here for instructional purposes only.

Last reviewed August 7, 2015