Devotional Thought – Spiritual Aspirations

03 Feb Devotional Thought – Spiritual Aspirations

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

Which is better, to have faith based on a little or a lot of evidence? Does belief become more precious as it’s basis shrinks? It is better for my heart to hope based on hope alone or because I can clearly see the end? Jesus never said any such a thing.

Why did Jesus say that even though Thomas believed he wasn’t blessed? It wasn’t because he’d wanted too much evidence, but because he wasn’t satisfied with what evidence he already had. That’s why he wanted to make sure that Jesus was real by reaching out to touch Him.

Jesus responded by asking, “Is that it? Is that all you’re interested in – to touch my body to make sure that I’m real? That’s not much, but if that is what you want, come here, reach out and touch me. But, you need to know that this isn’t going to be the blessing you’re looking for because the physical can never satisfy the spiritual.

Why didn’t Thomas ask Jesus to come into his soul and live there? Why didn’t Thomas go deeper and seek for the work behind the wounds or the significance in the scars? His aim was too low. Instead of requesting things that can be easily seen with the eyes or felt by his hands he should have asked to see the things that can only be seen by the spirit and felt in the heart. That’s why Jesus said, “You’ve believed me because you see me, but true blessing comes to those who will believe on me even though they’ve yet to see Me.”

The lesson from this encounter is simple: When you go to Jesus don’t ask for too little. Don’t think that physical blessings are the best that Jesus can give. They won’t lead to lasting satisfaction. They pass away, but He remains. They are like clothes that grow old, we wear out, and lay them aside, but Jesus stays the same.

So, when you approach Jesus don’t do like Thomas and ask for too little, rather request those things that are eternal, immortal and invisible. Ask for lasting love and hope that endures. Ask Him to allow you to receive the pain of beholding pain, the joy that comes from seeing joy and the hope that is found in bringing hope to the hopeless. That is touching the nail-scarred hands of Jesus for that is bearing in your spirit the marks of Jesus.