Stop Doubting & Believe

It's that time of year again, HEART CHECK UP!

Every year when it comes around to the time of Easter I'm moved from deep within. I was given an image of myself with sweat and tears running down my agonizing face from carrying this humongous cross up a hill. As I got up to this hill I place the cross into this hole as the Cross stands before me. People are shouting at me and saying that I deserve to be crucified. I ready myself for this crucifixion as Christ comes before me and whispers, "my dear child, I will take your place" and he sacrifices himself for the sake of My sins. Startled and amazed I fall to my knees as I look up upon this cross & gaze at the torture and agonizing face of my Savior. My tears and His blood drop down onto my face as I am in disbelief at what is happening. It's at that moment while I am facedown before My Lord that He miraculously comes down from that cross in an angelic glowing form of Himself and He looks at me and embraces me with His love saying, "It is finished".

Last Night at bible study we studied in the book of John 19:16-20:31.. There's a part where Jesus appears to one of his disciples named, Thomas. This Thomas was part of the twelve but wasn't with the others when they saw the Lord. The other disciples had seen the Lord and they came to him and told him about it. 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." (John 20:24,25) About a week later as the disciples were in the house, Thomas being among them, Jesus comes in and stands among them saying specifically to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE." (John20:26,27) It's at that moment Thomas says, "My Lord and my God!" and starts to believe as Jesus tells him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (vs.29)

The thing that I found quite remarkable about this encounter was how Jesus straight up tells him to "stop doubting and believe" that He has risen from the dead and that it's REALLY Him! How many of us are caught in the same position as Thomas was in. In disbelief that Christ has Risen. But just as he appeared before Thomas it's by believing that "you may have life in his name" (vs31) I pray that He appears into your life as He did in Thomas' and into mine and tells you as he told us to "stop doubting & believe" that He is Risen!

Have a great Resurrection Sunday!

"The LORD our God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with his love,

He will rejoice over you with singing"

Zephaniah 3:17

-Live Productively