Overcoming the DTs
On this and every other Memorial Weekend, we take time to honor all those who have given their lives, and to thank all who give of themselves, to protect our lives from those who threaten to destroy us. We remember the fallen, because they are our fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and coworkers. We knew them personally, and even though they are no longer in our presence, they are forever in our hearts.
There is one son, that many years ago also gave his life for us. But, his sacrifice was not to just protect our lives, but to renew our lives, and give us the promise of eternal life with him and his father, to those who take up his cross and follow him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, not only gave his life for us, he also took away the parts of our lives that threaten to bring destruction to ourselves and each other. When he died on the cross he took with him all of our sins and forgave us. He did this so that we could have a new life; A new life with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God kept his promise of eternal life by raising his son, Jesus, from the dead. We too can have eternal life, by believing and following Jesus Christ. JOHN 10: 27, 28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die.”
Seeing is believing, and the eternal life that we can have, through Christ, is beyond our eye’s vision, and more than our minds could ever imagine. It takes our own personal belief and faith in God, neither of which we can see or touch, that we give our lives, so that we can bask in the glory of God’s eternal life with Jesus and all those who follow.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to be on retreat with a group of middle school youth. In between the fun, food and fellowship were times the youth spent learning more about their personal relationships with God and Jesus. Some had a stronger relationship than others and some were still in the pre-Christian state of mind. As with many pre-Christians there is a need for hard proof of God’s existence. People have a hard time believing in something if they cannot see it or touch it.
The last meal we shared together that weekend featured mashed potatoes as one of the side items. I don’t put gravy on my taters I prefer butter. I couldn’t find the butter so I asked one of the cooks for some. As he was getting the butter for me another cook came out and said, “I don’t now why you need more butter, I put in a lot of butter when I made them.” My reply was, “That’s good, but I need to see it.”
On the drive home I got to thinking of what I said to that cook about needing to see the butter. “O Ye have little faith!” What a revelation! Why did I doubt the existence of what was told to me by the cook? I believed her but I needed to see the butter for myself.
I knew what had come over me. I was suffering from the DTs.
After Jesus had risen from the grave, he came to his disciples one evening and they were filled with joy by his presence. Another disciple, Thomas, came in later and was not so sure it was Jesus, and said to the other disciples in JOHN 20: 25-29 “ Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my fingers in those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me.”
I am a believer in God and Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I do not have to see them now in this life because I know I will see them in the eternal life. But, I also know from my experience with the cook’s mashed potatoes, that for some people it is hard to fully believe in something when it cannot be seen.
We believe in the lives our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and coworkers gave for us to protect our lives, because we knew them and saw them and touched them. The love we have for them remains in our hearts, which is something you cannot see or touch but we know it’s there.
Overcoming the DTs is to understand the truth that not all things in our lives can be seen or even touched. Have a little faith and release the Doubting Thomas from your life.
God is everywhere and someday you will know it and will be filled with the Spirit and you will be happy.
If you’re hungry for a better life maybe ya just need some mashed taters to get started.
On this and every other Memorial Weekend, we take time to honor all those who have given their lives, and to thank all who give of themselves, to protect our lives from those who threaten to destroy us. We remember the fallen, because they are our fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and coworkers. We knew them personally, and even though they are no longer in our presence, they are forever in our hearts.
There is one son, that many years ago also gave his life for us. But, his sacrifice was not to just protect our lives, but to renew our lives, and give us the promise of eternal life with him and his father, to those who take up his cross and follow him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, not only gave his life for us, he also took away the parts of our lives that threaten to bring destruction to ourselves and each other. When he died on the cross he took with him all of our sins and forgave us. He did this so that we could have a new life; A new life with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God kept his promise of eternal life by raising his son, Jesus, from the dead. We too can have eternal life, by believing and following Jesus Christ. JOHN 10: 27, 28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die.”
Seeing is believing, and the eternal life that we can have, through Christ, is beyond our eye’s vision, and more than our minds could ever imagine. It takes our own personal belief and faith in God, neither of which we can see or touch, that we give our lives, so that we can bask in the glory of God’s eternal life with Jesus and all those who follow.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to be on retreat with a group of middle school youth. In between the fun, food and fellowship were times the youth spent learning more about their personal relationships with God and Jesus. Some had a stronger relationship than others and some were still in the pre-Christian state of mind. As with many pre-Christians there is a need for hard proof of God’s existence. People have a hard time believing in something if they cannot see it or touch it.
The last meal we shared together that weekend featured mashed potatoes as one of the side items. I don’t put gravy on my taters I prefer butter. I couldn’t find the butter so I asked one of the cooks for some. As he was getting the butter for me another cook came out and said, “I don’t now why you need more butter, I put in a lot of butter when I made them.” My reply was, “That’s good, but I need to see it.”
On the drive home I got to thinking of what I said to that cook about needing to see the butter. “O Ye have little faith!” What a revelation! Why did I doubt the existence of what was told to me by the cook? I believed her but I needed to see the butter for myself.
I knew what had come over me. I was suffering from the DTs.
After Jesus had risen from the grave, he came to his disciples one evening and they were filled with joy by his presence. Another disciple, Thomas, came in later and was not so sure it was Jesus, and said to the other disciples in JOHN 20: 25-29 “ Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my fingers in those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me.”
I am a believer in God and Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I do not have to see them now in this life because I know I will see them in the eternal life. But, I also know from my experience with the cook’s mashed potatoes, that for some people it is hard to fully believe in something when it cannot be seen.
We believe in the lives our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and coworkers gave for us to protect our lives, because we knew them and saw them and touched them. The love we have for them remains in our hearts, which is something you cannot see or touch but we know it’s there.
Overcoming the DTs is to understand the truth that not all things in our lives can be seen or even touched. Have a little faith and release the Doubting Thomas from your life.
God is everywhere and someday you will know it and will be filled with the Spirit and you will be happy.
If you’re hungry for a better life maybe ya just need some mashed taters to get started.
posted by John | Sunday, May 27, 2007
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