Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” JOHN 20:27
While we say, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” we don’t always act that way. Who hasn’t found himself wanting to ask a question but feeling too afraid? We think everyone else already knows the answer (they usually don’t) and that everyone else will make fun of us (they probably will). Among Jesus’ disciples, there was one man who wasn’t afraid to ask: Thomas. In fact, history remembers him as “doubting Thomas” because of his refusal to believe that which he hadn’t personally proven to be true. He was as discouraged as the rest of the disciples about Jesus’ death, but eight days after the Resurrection, he still wouldn’t take their word for it. (He was absent on Resurrection evening when Jesus appeared to the group.) When he finally met Jesus face-to-face, Thomas found the Lord forgiving, not belittling. He allowed Thomas to come to faith in his own way and at his own pace. Jesus does the same with us. If you have a question, ask Him—you’ll see. Thankfully, Jesus makes fun of no one—even those of shaky faith. Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening
I often tell others that the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. All too often what Dr. Jeremiah is saying today actually is crippling to countless people.
We get caught up in the fear of what others think or may think in regards to us.
Jesus rebuked His Disciples for trying to keep children from coming to Him. Jesus, as always, used that as a teaching moment for them and us.
With the plethora of books, videos, DVD's, CD's, lecturers and schools of thought in regards to how to be a Christian, it seems that simplicity is lost. Jesus said come as a child.
You do not need an absolutely singular version of the Bible.
You do not need a specific dress code.
You do not need degrees on the wall of your home showing your theology training.
The most effective people for Christ were those willing to come as a Child.
It's an American idiom that there's only one definition of assume. Yet, unfortunately, millions assume that how the church is that they walk into acts and behaves is how they ought to.
I have known very few who behaved like the Berean Church. Who go themselves to see if what was preached or taught was true.
Plainly said, in Jesus’s day, nobody spoke with thees and thous any more than they did American English used in modern versions like the NASB or NIV. They spoke in the language of their day. Just like we ought to do in our own.
Likewise Jesus didn't over complicate things. He didn't dumb down His teaching. If a heart was receptive it brought forth fruit.
We easily forget the Scriptural warnings of being alert in regards to false teachers getting into the Church. We don't take them seriously. Read the Letters to the Churches in Revelation. Jesus Himself was writing with regards to how people in various generations were being in HIS Church.
Regardless of the version you read, Scripture says that the word of God never returns void. It always accomplishes what the Spirit sets out to do.
Coming as a Child to God is coming in the purest of faith. A child has no true reason to doubt or to question a truly loving, honest, pure at heart parent.
We are encouraged to cast fears and doubts aside. We are told that it's OK to question. Jesus loves questions. He certainly gets plenty from me. It's OK to discover something that the Spirit is showing you, and to share it with others. They might not have seen it themselves.
My favorite on this is at a time that I was video recording Dr. John C. Whitcomb. Former Professor at Grace Theological Seminary. In his 70's, and having poured through his Bible for decades, having taught thousands. I had discovered something he hadn't seen. He, like Christ, encouraged questions. So I brought up what I had found. He gave me an assignment. I was to write a paper on it for him to review before the week was over.
Children have an intense curiosity. Be curious about Godly living.
Be curious about what you read. Find Godly men to ask about what you find.
Child have a heart that is moldable. That can be shaped into one after God's own heart.
It's OK to question and ask what looks like a dumb question.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Scripture says that if any man lacks wisdom, ask of God who gives freely to all.
Don't over complicate your Spiritual life. Be at Jesus’s feet as a Child. Watch what happens next.
No comments:
Post a Comment