Scripture:

John 20:29 NKJ
“Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Observation:

I do not believe this story is in the Bible to embarrass Thomas but rather to help us.

Thomas had heard Jesus say He would rise again and knew the witnesses who declared that they had seen the Lord with their own eyes. Thomas simply chose not to believe until he could see and feel. Jesus addressed Thomas’ wrong thinking with a simple contrast. The ones who are “blessed” are the ones who believe without having to see or feel.

Thomas did make an adjustment. History tells us he became a great church leader so this is not an irreversible syndrome.

Application:

I certainly cannot point the finger at Thomas because I have done the same thing. I have chosen not to believe until I could see, feel, touch, smell, etc. But, that is not the way God has set things up. All throughout the scriptures we have example after example of people who believed God, His word and His promises before they had any physical evidence as confirmation. That is how we even come to know the Lord and experience His salvation.
I don’t want to be critical of Thomas but I also don’t want to repeat his mistake. Instead I choose to believe before I see and feel, so I join the ranks of the blessed!

Prayer:

Thank you Lord, for the clear example of Thomas. Thank you that we can be a people who believe you based upon your word and the witness of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the opportunity to join the ranks of the blessed who believe before they feel or see. By your grace, no Thomas Syndrome for us. Amen.