January 28, 2021 -- John 20:29 -- Faith that is blessed

Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 English Standard Version

It is worth pausing and re-reading that passage several times. Do you understand, you who are reading this right now, you are covered by this glorious blessing? Thomas refused to believe, in fact he said, “I will never believe” (unless I place my finger in His nail scars and put my hand into His wounded side). Doubting Thomas broke into the confession “My Lord and my God!” when Jesus approached him and invited Thomas to touch those very scars.

We have not seen Jesus with our eyes, nor have we touched those glorious scars. Yet Jesus calls us blessed. We are blessed by Jesus our High Priest. We are blessed because the Spirit of God moved us to hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus as it was presented by faithful parents (as in my case) or faithful Christians in church or at work. We are blessed because the Spirit of God seals to our minds and hearts the work of Jesus. In fact, by this blessing Jesus teaches us our faith is not inferior to that of those first disciples. We are not second-class citizens in heaven.

This should inspire you to tell others of Jesus. This blessing assures us that as we go and speak the Good News of Jesus Christ, others will hear and believe because of our testimony. Others will also be covered by this glorious blessing—”Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. This blessing leads us to praise the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit! It is true we are most richly blessed by the extravagant love and mercy of our God!

The Love of Jesus

O Father of Jesus,

Help me to approach thee with deepest reverence, not with presumption, not with servile fear, but with holy boldness. Thou art beyond the grasp of my understanding, but not beyond that of my love. Thou knowest that I love thee supremely, for thou art supremely adorable, good, perfect.

My heart melts at the love of Jesus, my brother, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, married to me, dead for me, risen for me; He is mine and I am his, given to me as well as for me; I am never so much mine as when I am his, or so much lost to myself until lost in him; then I find my true manhood.

But my love is frost and cold, ice and snow; Let his love warm me, lighten my burden, be my heaven; May it be more revealed to me in all its influences that my love to him may be more fervent and glowing; Let the mighty tide of his everlasting love cover the rocks of my sin and care; Then let my spirit float above those things which had else wrecked my life. Make me fruitful by living to that love, my character becoming more beautiful every day. If traces of Christ’s love-artistry be upon me, may he work on with his divine brush until the complete image be obtained and I be made a perfect copy of him, my Master.

O Lord Jesus, come to me,

O Divine Spirit, rest upon me,

O Holy Father, look on me in mercy

for the sake of the well-beloved.

Prayer is from the book: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

https://youtu.be/hwc2d1Xt8gM