hi there so the topic of doubt just made me think about Doughty and Thomas because he's
probably the most well-known doubter in the Bible and it just seems like in this case God
is really praising people who don't need that evidence and he says because you have seen me
you have believed blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed so I just wanted
your perspective on that yeah yeah good question well he didn't really rebuke Thomas he just said
you can be blessed more blessed if you haven't seen in yet belief but you know Jesus provided
evidence to John the Baptist when he doubted again the Apostles always referred in if you just read
the book of Acts and and their sermons they always would refer to Jesus miracles and his resurrection
as evidence that Christianity is true so I think maybe the equivalent today would be demanding
that the risen Jesus appeared to us before we'll believe rather than looking at the evidence and
you know I've run into some inveterate skeptics who I've said to them you know I get the sense
that even if Jesus actually appeared to you and said Here I am see now believe that you still
wouldn't he said that's right I wouldn't I still wouldn't believe because I still have questions
and he's got to answer them first I think wow you know that's just you got to come to God on
his terms and not on your own terms if you're really seeking and God doesn't necessarily make
it easy for us in fact in in acts 17 27 he says he wants us Paul says he wants us to grope for
him think of a blind man who's just feeling around for something on which to anchor himself God wants
us to grope for him seek for him fervently and something for us to keep in mind is God isn't
just looking for someone who's going to believe and just pray a prayer and walk away he's looking
for disciples because even the demons believe in tremble at that I think we sometimes we can
make it a cheap grace we make when we present a gospel that didn't preach and we focus on the
faith and stuff but faith I think is more than just believing faith in the New Testament is
what scholars like to refer to a speech act you confess it but you also mirror that confession
with your life I think of the rich man who came to Jesus the rich young man and say teacher what must
I do to have eternal life and Jesus said well you know the commandments do not murder do not commit
adultery do not steal and the young rich man said well I've done all these since youth and
Jesus said well you know there's one more thing that you lack you know sell everything you have
and give to the poor and then come follow me and rich men didn't want to do that because he had a
lot of possessions and he walked away sad now notice what Jesus did not do there he did say
hold on a second you know I just get teased and I just testing you on that look just come on back
you don't have to give all out you can just grow into that look just come before me kneel
pray this prayer and and you'll be saved from from Hell hey let the man walk away Jesus is not just
looking for people who will pray a prayer and say I believe in you and affirm him he's looking for
disciples who will be all out sold out for him on fire for him willing to give their lives for him
that's what he's looking for and he does not make it easy for us and we shouldn't expect them to
you