December 23 – What Will It Take For You to Believe?

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." John 20:19-25 

Thomas said that he wouldn’t believe unless he touched Jesus’ wounded hands and side. So what will it take for you to believe? We’re about 2000 years later—so we can’t expect to be able to put our fingers into the place the nails went though His wrist. Jesus is in Heaven, seated at the right hand of His Father…waiting. 

Our eyes are on Christmas now—waiting. Children are waiting for Santa Clause to arrive—making special efforts to be good. Adults too celebrate the joy of the season—waiting. Waiting for a holiday meal, waiting in line to purchase a precious gift, or waiting to watch a special TV program or football game. What do you do to celebrate Christmas? Do you put up a Christmas tree, send cards to family and friends, buy or make special gifts, give money or gifts to the needy of your community, or like my own father, wear a “bah-humbug” slogan pin? Christmas can be a time of unmet expectations and disappointments for those not focusing on Jesus—the real gift of the season. My favorite “celebration of Christmas” is the Christmas Eve candle lighting service at church. Usually there is special music and scripture readings proclaiming the promise of God the Father in giving the gift of His only Son—and then with the lights dimmed the congregation is hushed and the lighting of each individual’s candle begins until the whole room is full of tiny glowing lights signifying Jesus light within their own hearts. Silent Night—Holy Night. Yes, it is a Holy Night. The night that Christ was born. Only one more day of waiting. May you believe and find room for Jesus in your heart as you wait for Christmas to arrive.

Heavenly Father—Thank you once again for Your plan of salvation for mankind…and for choosing each of us to know Your one and only Son—Jesus.  

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).