Bible Study Blog for Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Ezra 3-5; John 20
We call it “BEING FROM MISSOURI.”
It’s honest Skepticism – and it’s different from Unbelief.
Unbelief is presumptuous. It says -
“Since your claim is untrue, I choose not to believe.”
Honest Skepticism says -
“I want to believe – but I need proof. Show me…”
THOMAS was an honorary resident of Missouri. HE said:
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
Jesus called Thomas on it:
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
And predictably, Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus was incredibly GRACIOUS towards Thomas’s honest Skepticism -
As He will be – with YOURS – because the closer you examine truth, the brighter it shines. Jesus welcomes questions. Even from Missouri.
See you Tomorrow!
Tags: Bayside Church Woodland, Bayside Woodland, Bible Study, Ezra, John
The Devil’s toolkit includes doubt. Such it is when I look at my own history of major sins. Listing them here isn’t productive, but I’d not want them paraded in front of the community, my local church or my family. The Devil is always pointing me back to them and doing his best to pry my hands off the Rock of My Salvation so as to set me up for failure when I try to do deeds that will cause me to merit Salvation on my own. If I focus on those failures I’m not asking the right questions and my skepticism isn’t so much about God’s power and love, but my own strength.
That the Word is true stands up to the core question of all of history, “Who is Jesus?” He can’t be just a good man, but is either the only Son of God, a lunatic, a fool or a liar. There can only be one conclusion, namely, Jesus is God, when one considers His claims and then sees what He was willing to endure to prove those claims and then see the behavior of His closest disciples after they witnessed the evidence of His resurrection. The same conclusion shows up inside my life when I look at how my behavior is changed by the presence of His Spirit living out His life inside me so that I’m changed to want to do life like He did it.
The Agnostic (by definition, a Skeptic) has more intellectual integrity than the Atheist (a true unbeliever.) The Agnostic usually has an open mind that is willing to hear evidence contrary to his preconceptions about God. Recent experience with Atheists in matters of public policy shows an unwillingness to permit any evidence that supports a theistic conclusion contrary to the Atheistic religion’s, viz., “Intelligent Design” vs. Evolution being taught in public schools.
It’s not up to us to change the behaviors of the Lost who stop their ears tightly with both hands and say, “la, la, la, la, la….” as the Gospel is preached, but rather that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our doubts fly away when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, and as a result of that change it’s easier to find the strength and conviction to preach the Gospel to those around us. Such is our duty, and as was said a while ago, “Preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.”
Lord, help us believe and live our our lives as you did. We can’t do it when we go after it without relying on you. Amen.