Gutsy Thomas

# 306 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:18, “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Next on our list of the apostles is Thomas, also called “Didymus.” which means twin. We have no biblical record of when or how Thomas received the call to follow Jesus.

But one incident dogs him in the minds of all who read the Scriptures. It occurred on the evening of the resurrection. The disciples were gathered in the upper room, “for fear of the Jews,” but Thomas wasn't with them. (Jn 20:19) Jesus appeared to the other disciples at this time, and they later told Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord and he replied, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (Jn 20:25)

From that moment on, we have labeled him as “doubting Thomas.” Personally, I think it's a bad rap. I would rather call him something like courageous Thomas, or “fearless Thomas.

Think about it. It took a lot of guts to stand up and question the words of his companions of the last several years. What was he really saying? He was saying, “ I need more than your words and experience for proof!”

Oh that more in the church would be willing to bring up the tough questions with their peers. More willing to go to the law and the testimony for surety! Isa 8:20 says, “to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

If we had the guts of Thomas, maybe we wouldn't be so quick to quietly accept the ungodly practices that have become so prevalent in the church today. Sparks will likely fly, but they usually do when iron sharpens iron. Just remember to “speak the truth in love.”

Thomas struggled with belief, but he was fearless in his pursuit of it. More on this tomorrow.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.