Sermon nuggets Weds Dec 31
Theme- Doubts
Verses- John 20:26-27 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Doubts Confronted-
A problem with confronting doubts is the tendency to believe what we first were taught. Some studies says when we hear a lie it takes up to 5 times to hear the truth before we actually change our minds. First impressions do make a difference. But when we know a truth how much more difficult to accept another truth. Death ends life. To accept a resurrection from someone who died is a big adjustment.
Jesus is confronting Thomas with his personal appearance. His doubts must be faced with another truth.
But before that Thomas heard many testimonies of the miracle by those who were his friends. When people respond to Christ because of others it is never as strong a faith as when someone has a personal meeting with Jesus. In the first instance people are responding to ideas and testimony. Those become important steps to bring us to meeting the Lord. However, if that is all we base our faith on then doubts arise more quickly. We need a personal encounter with Christ. But rebellion may keep us from wanting to heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction on our hearts.
When we disbelieve something it is difficult to change one’s mind. You must be shown to be wrong. Most beliefs hinge not so much on the facts as on pride. It is difficult to admit personal change of opinions. Yet, there is no one who can accept Christ without first coming to the very point of humility saying “I was wrong”, "I have sinned”, "I need help". Sin keeps people in their doubts even when confronted with truth because it is as one who says, “Don’t confuse me with the fact, my mind is made up.”
Likewise, there are doubt that come from our emotions more than reason. Emotional doubt is just a feeling we have. Something in us doesn’t make sense. Someone might doubt because of hypocrisy in the church. This has nothing to do with the claims of Jesus only the emotions we have about others. Such a person needs a different perspective. They need to think through the real issues and not judge Jesus by those who claim to believe in Him.
I find doubts of emotion to come into play with the loss of a loved one. It is grief that keeps some people from trusting in Jesus because they are hurt when a loved one leaves them. Life didn’t happen hey way they wanted it to happen. Surprisingly to me, it has nothing to do with the facts. All people die. I would think someone who has died past their 80s would be more understandable. The resentments against God, church, pastors and faith are just as strong for some who lost a grandparent or an older parent. They don’t like death and so blame God. It is especially hard to lose a child in death by illness, or worse by violence.
When some doubt God or the Bible it might be helpful to evaluate what else is going on in their life that is keeping them from the real issues about Jesus. Satan uses lots of lies to keep us from faith. But we also need to look within to see what is going on in our own hearts-Pride? Sin? Selfishness? Grief? Anger? Loneliness? Lust? Looking at the facts doesn’t always change the emotions. “Lord, change me” is one of the hardest prayers to give to face our doubts as well as our lives when we know we are not in the will of the Lord.
That is an important prayer also as we face a New Year.
Pastor Dale.
