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This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Stormproof – Downpours of Doubt (CLICK HERE)

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Sometimes the biggest skeptics can be the people closest to you.  A person’s inside circle is often a source of great support, but also when people see all sides of you, they can sometimes have an insight or perception that will be hidden from other people.

We know that there were individuals who followed Jesus for his time in public ministry that doubted even after the resurrection just before Jesus went into heaven. But even closer than his followers were his family.

And they doubted.

Mary, Jesus’ mother seems to be steady on her understanding that the child she was privleged to bear was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

However, Jesus’ brothers and sisters…not so much.

Mark 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And just a bit later…his family arrived:

Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Was Jude part of this group?  Was he one that was a bit embarrassed by what his half-brother Jesus was doing?  Did he perceive him as a lunatic that was out of his mind?  Perhaps.

Maybe he was part of that group.

Maybe he observed Jesus patiently interact with his family, knowing they were doubters, but loving them enough to help them too from a heart of doubt to a confession of certainty.

Maybe Jude experienced first hand what he says in verse 22 of his letter:

Jude 22 Be merciful to those who doubt;…

Doubt is not a hard heart.

Doubt is not staunch unbelief.

Doubt is not a rejection of faith.

Doubt is being caught between believing two opinions or sets of inputs.  Jude and his family were faithful Jews.  They too were influenced by the religious establishment of the day which also discounted and rejected Jesus’ claim.

So Jude and his family found themselves in the middle of this tension.

And Jesus had mercy on his family and has mercy on all who doubt.

Why?

Because he wanted his family to be in heaven with him.  Because he wants you to be in heaven with him.  So he has mercy and does all he can to, in love, move hearts from doubt to certainty.

Just as he did with Jude.

Just as he does with you.

 

Apply: Do you know someone with doubts?  How can you show mercy and be used by God to step into their doubt and help to move them to certainty?

Prayer: Lord, as always, thank you for your mercy which is patient with my doubts and always desiring doubts to be replaced with certainty of your love, grace and forgiveness in Jesus.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Stormproof – Downpours of Doubt (CLICK HERE)

Are you one that has to “see it to believe it?”

Perhaps this depends on the source of the information that you receive.  With the plethora of reels on social media, perhaps some are so far out that you think to yourself, “I’d have to see that to believe it.”  If there is a trend in your child to not doing very well on their homework and they come home and announce they got 100% on an exam, you might say, “Let me see it before I believe it.”  

Matters of faith also lead us to at times desire to “see it to believe it.”

We’d love to have a first hand glimpse at God creating the world.

Wouldn’t it be easier to believe that the Bible is truly God’s word if you could see God working through an individual to write the words that are in the Bible.

Perhaps it would be easier to believe that Jesus was the Son of God if you could have actually seen him alive.

We wouldn’t be the only person who wanted to see something before believing it.  In fact, one of the 12 closest followers of Jesus had to “see it to believe it.”  His name was Thomas.  

He didn’t trust the other 10 disciples.

He didn’t trust the report of the women.

He didn’t even trust the words Jesus had predicted on multiple occasions prior to his death and resurrection.

He wouldn’t believe until he saw.

Thomas was one that Jesus chose to bring the message of the Gospel to the world.  This message hinged on the certainty that Jesus really did rise from the dead.  Thomas would be ineffective as a proclaimer of the Gospel if he had doubts about Jesus’ resurrection.

So Jesus turned the doubts into certainty by appearing to Thomas.  The Apostle John wrote:

John 20:24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus’ heart is the same for us.  The doubts we might have about him he desires to replace with certainty.  We can be thankful that Thomas had doubts.  Jesus stepped into those doubts so Thomas could have certainty and us through Thomas have the same certainty.  Jesus affirmed his resurrection to those that could see him so that everyone who cannot see Jesus would have the same certainty and believe without seeing.

This is how God’s Spirit works.

He changes our need to see to believe to believe without seeing.

But it’s not a blind faith, it is a faith that is based on the facts of those who saw him.

Stop doubting and believe!

 

Apply: What doubts do you have?  Is there someone in the Bible that had the same doubt?  How did the Lord change the doubt into certainty.  He can do the same for you!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to give me many reasons to believe you…even though I haven’t seen you. AMEN

This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Stormproof – Downpours of Doubt (CLICK HERE)

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I Doubt it.

We have all had doubts in life.  We doubt a news report.  We doubt some exaggerated claim our children make. We doubt the weather report.  

Doubt comes when we have a tension between two sets of information or opinions.  What I believe to be true is challenged by another set of information. In a moment of doubt we are faced with deciding what we will believe and act on.

Perhaps some moments of doubt have little consequence in our life.  If we don’t believe the weather report, we may find ourselves caught in a thunderstorm and a bit wet.  If we don’t believe a news report, we move on and it has little consequence on our day.

Faith doubts are bigger deals.

Doubts that come into our faith life have the opportunity to do one of two things:

One, separate us from God, or 

Two, solidify our faith in God.

Satan loves to not only create doubt in God and his Word, but keep the doubt growing until a person believes the lies of Satan over the truth of God.  Consequence? Separation from God forever.  This is a big deal.

The Lord loves to come into our place of doubt and solidify our faith.  He doesn’t dismiss, condemn or leave us for having the doubt, but rather reminds us, encourages and removes the doubt with only the certainty he can bring.

Sure, he challenges our doubt and reminds us that he and his Word are always trustworthy.

Even the disciples had doubts.

Doubting Thomas is the most well-known.

John 20:24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

Thomas had a lot of information.  He had peers with whom he spent three years with.  He had heard Jesus himself speak of his suffering and death.  He had seen the miracles of Jesus.  You would have thought he had enough information to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead…even though he had not seen Jesus alive himself.

Yet, he wanted to see it himself.

Jesus obliged him. But also reminded him.  He didn’t have to see to believe.

But Jesus wanted him to have certainty.

He wants the same for us.

So, when we are challenged in a way different from the Words of Jesus, we can always trust with confidence, the truth Jesus gives.

 

Apply: What times in your faith life have you found yourself doubting?  How did our doubt get answered?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love that always wants to guide us to certainty when we have doubts.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Stormproof – Downpours of Doubt (CLICK HERE)

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Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

After three years of watching, listening to and asking questions of Jesus, some of his closest followers still had doubts.

Does this surprise you?

What perhaps is more surprising is in this moment, Jesus, who knows all things and knew some doubted, did not delay his return to heaven to address every doubt that lingered in the hearts of his followers. He simply reminded them of his power, gave them great purpose, and left them with a wonderful promise. (See Matthew 28:18-20)

But while he didn’t linger and answer every doubt in this moment, his disciples trusted enough to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  As evidence by the work of the apostles in the first century, the doubts turned to certainty and the conviction of their faith led them to be great proclaimers of Jesus.

Doubts come on our journey of faith.  I think it is safe to say that every follower of Jesus has had some sort of doubt in their journey.

Perhaps some doubt that God created the world in six days.  Some may doubt that Jesus really was the Son of God.  Some may doubt that they are loved by God.  Some may doubt that God is truly a good God.  Some may doubt they are forgiven.

Perhaps you have had doubts too.

It’s OK.  Downpours of doubt can come at any time and sometimes unexpectedly.  We can think our faith is rock solid, only to have a life experience that causes a tension between what we just experienced and what we believe God to be or say.

Doubt is standing in that tension.  Literally that’s what one of the Greek words means that is translated “doubt” – to stand between two beliefs that then leads to an uncertainty in our belief.

We have all been there.

The question is what do we do with our doubts?

Dealing with doubts is certainly important because doubts can do one of two things.  Doubts can lead us to separate from God (that is choose to believe the thought or answer that is contrary to the Word of God) or they will lead us on a search that leads to solidifying our relationship with God (which is God’s desired answer for all our doubts.)

God’s desire is always to overcome doubts with certainty.  He wants our faith, trust, and confidence to be rock solid, so gives us what we need to alleviate the tension that doubt creates and walk confidently with our Savior.  The Apostle John wrote, (John 20:30) “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

So this week we will explore the doubts that come and, with the Spirit’s help, be prepared for the downpour of doubt with the umbrella of God’s truth.

 

Apply:  Do you have a doubt/uncertainty with which you are struggling today?  If you are willing to share, email pastorgeiger@gmail.com and I will be happy to include a thought about it in one of this week’s devotions.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for a heart of love and the working of your Spirit that seeks to move us from our places of doubt to hearts of faith and confidence.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Rooted – Grounded in Prayer (CLICK HERE)

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Prayer is very personal.

We started this week reflecting on our relationship to God the Father and the blessing and privilege we have to pray to him because he has made us his dear children.  Whenever we pray we engage this very personal relationship that the blood of Jesus has secured for us.  It’s no wonder that the Second Commandment encourages us not to take God’s name in vain.  Frivolous or thoughtless cries to God don’t communicate the blessing of the relationship, but rather the callous demands of a entitled person.  Everytime we use the phrase “O my god” is calling on God’s name in vain, not a reflection of faith that trusts the child/father relationship. God is also not just a magic genie in a bottle that is “out there” to be tapped for favors and request.  Prayer is a personal reflection of the relationship you know and trust with a heart that desires and yearns to be in communication with your heavenly Father.  Every prayer is to be a very personal expression of this wonderful relationship.

Prayer is for you personally.

Child who has a solid relationship with their father and mother know that he or she has privileges that other children don’t.  While growing up they may not always express appreciation for that relationship, but the personal connection with one’s parents allows for very personal conversations and requests to be made.  Parents have this personal relationship with their children as well and will give to their children far more than they will give to other children.

So prayer is not only an expression of the personal relationship God has established with us, but is for us to use to have personal conversations with our heavenly Father.  He desires us to share what’s on our hearts, both words of thanksgiving and challenge.  He wants to be invited in to your personal challenges and the concerns that you carry.  He invites us to put our burdens on him.  He teaches us to ask for things for our personal spiritual, emotional and physical well being. 

When Jesus taught the Lord’s prayer, it was intended to capture the very personal requests we need on a daily basis.

Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’’

Each one of these petitions is for a personal benefit, whether for body or soul.  While the prayer is used by many and we often speak it together, it is intended to be the personal expression of your needs to your heavenly Father.  Martin Luther captured the thought on the fourth petition:

Everything included in the necessities and nourishment for our bodies, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, farm, fields, livestock, money, property, an upright spouse, upright children, upright members of the household, upright and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, decency, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. *

So, while we certainly don’t want all our prayers to be self-centered in nature, never feel bad for presenting your personal requests to God.  He loves you and always is ready to hear from you!

Apply: Here is a four-part outline to use as you pray that perhaps keeps a balance in your prayers:

A-Adoration – Reflecting on the person and work of God; praising him!

C – Confession – Sharing the sins of your thoughts, words and actions, seeking forgiveness and God’s faithfulness to forgive through Jesus.

T – Thanksgiving – Don’t forget to return and give thanks for all with which the Lord has blessed you!

S- Supplication – Ask for personal needs and pray on behalf of others.

Prayer: Lord thank you for making me your child and inviting and encouraging me to bring my requests to you.  I am grateful for the personal nature of prayer and that I can use it personally.  AMEN.

* Practical Advice on Prayer from Martin Luther by MARY JANE HAEMIG https://wordandworld.luthersem.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/35-1_Prayer/Practical%20Advice%20on%20Prayer%20from%20Martin%20Luther.pdf