Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24ff, ESV)
Its okay to doubt, its okay to ask questions, God is big enough to meet you in them as He did Thomas.
kingdom travelin' 
While Jesus might allow for doubt, which I hope he does, I don’t think many others do. Maybe if you’re a new believer, but, it seems if you’ve been a Christian for any amount of time, the expectation is that you should grow in faith and cease doubting. Can true faith exist along with doubt? Along with questions?
That’s why we need to: 1. Be in the word to hear from Him, 2. Sit quiet long ebough to hear Him. 3. Be in disciple making relationships where honesty prevails. 4. Love people enough to not worry to much about what they think. 5. Always be pointed to Jesus. 6. If people say they have no doubts, wonder what else they are not real about.
Hmmmm. Interesting. Maybe people are what I question; not so much God. How come we all hear Him so differently? That is, I think a big question for me that causes me to doubt.
Great points and thanks for giving me something to think about.
do you speak to EVERYONE the same?
don’t you speak to them into their context and shared experience?
couldn’t God speak the Truth to each of us in a context that we understand? We measure it by Scripture to make sure its not just ourselves talking to us, or worse, but I think He does speak to us as the individuals we are…
How can truth be different? We Christians are all over the map in regards to nearly everything and we can all back it up by scripture — just read the way we want it to be read to support our own established viewpoints and opinions. Is divorce really wrong? Does God want us to be happy? I long for black and white, can’t fathom how God can live in the gray areas and yet, there’s no absolutes. I yearn for them, but perhaps they don’t exist and I have a hard time accepting and trusting God who can “speak” to one person so vastly different than another. What if nothing is real?
Sorry; I’m not having a very faith-filled day.
Truth, by its very nature cannot be different. But God’s ability to relate to us is as varied as how many of us there are. To meet and comfort you, a He wishes to, is not as much about Truth or black and white as it is about meeting and comforting you where you are. Its less about right, and more about relationship, with God. Abiding with Jesus is deeper and more about sitting with Him than about right or wrong.
Okay, I will give in and try this “sitting at the feet” thing. Warily. I do much, I read much, I learn much, I serve much, but I do admit that my prayer life is lacking and though I might read the Bible, I’m not sure that’s really “abiding” even though….. shouldn’t it be?
Like I said, I’m a skeptic. But I do yearn for what you describe.
Thanks and sorry to bug your blog so much.
I guess I need to talk more about what abiding is to me and hope that it will get a conversation going on THAT… but not today dear readers…
Thanks for your patience with me. 🙂