LHM Daily Devotions - A PLACE FOR THOMAS

"A PLACE FOR THOMAS"

Mar. 13, 2019

He (Jesus) said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." ... So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

~ John 11:11, 16 (ESV)

I love Thomas. Here's Jesus saying incomprehensible stuff about Lazarus being asleep—no, dead—wait, what exactly do You mean, Jesus? And why are You planning to go back to Judea, where everybody wants to kill You? Thomas doesn't understand it at all, and he's as gloomy as Eeyore about Jesus' decisions—but he's still loyal: "Fine, let's go with Jesus, then. If nothing else, at least we can die with Him."

Steady, sober, faithful. It's not the worst attitude in the world. Thomas is sticking with Jesus. And if he grumps along the way, well, that's human, isn't it?

This is what my faith is like a lot of the time, and maybe that's true for you, too. Plenty of endurance, a dogged determination to keep on with Jesus—but not much imagination, really. Not much excitement and joy. A lot of what someone called "dailyness."

But that's okay. Because every so often Jesus astonishes us, as He did Thomas. Lazarus is raised from the dead, and a funeral becomes a party. Jesus Himself rises from the dead, and the first thing He says to us of little faith is "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe," He said to Thomas (John 20:27).

All of us, even the gloomiest, will one day see Jesus face to face. But until we have that joy, we have His own presence with us—his Holy Spirit living in us—and our daily faith gets transformed, day after day, by His amazing love. We belong to Jesus, and there is a place for us at His side—even for earnest, unimaginative Thomas, even for you. Even for me.

THE PRAYER: Lord, keep me with You, keep me faithful, even when I can't see anything good to look forward to. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• What do you do when you're down in the dumps?

• How's your life with the Lord right now—dull, exciting, painful?

• Tell about a time when God was with you though you couldn't recognize it at the moment.

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What do you do when you're down in the dumps?