Day 248: Being Human

John 20:19-31; 2 Chronicles 32; Psalm 88

The disciples were afraid, they locked themselves in a room. Thomas wouldn't believe until he saw Jesus himself. They were human. We humans need so much reassurance that what God says is true, who he is is real, and that where he calls us to go is the actually where he wants us to go.

Another take on Thomas is that he wanted to make sure he wasn't going to believe in some made up hocus pocus. There are a lot of religions out there, all of them claiming to be true. This is something I struggle with comprehending. Thomas said he wanted to see it with his own eyes to make sure that the disciples weren't delirious or something. We have to investigate Jesus for ourselves. It isn't enough just to take our pastor's word for it. How do we do that? Reading our Bible. I'm amazed at what I have discovered through scripture! There's stuff in here about God and about living life as a human that I didn't realize and have been significant in reshaping how I do life. That's a lesson from doubting Thomas as well.

Wow, 2 Chronicles 32 is PACKED with stuff! First Hezekiah and the people of Judah get attacked by a powerful enemy. Significance? Just because we serve The Lord, doesn't mean that we won't face enemies. Then this enemy tries to instill fear by comparing God to the gods of other nations. Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, believed that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was no different than any other worshipped idol; but that is where he was very wrong. Our God is not like other gods: he is alive and powerful and attentive. Next, Hezekiah prays for help and God completely wipes out the Assyrian army without the people of Judah even lifting a finger! God fights for us! And from then on, everyone knew that Hezekiah and Judah's God was not to be messed with. Sennacherib returns to his home and is killed in the temple of his gods by his own sons. His gods do not protect him and his life is taken by those that should have loved him. Worthless idols lead to a worthless existence. Hezekiah made God proud. He wasn't perfect, and this chapter reveals that too, but he was faithful to The Lord. He is a good example of trusting in God and making him top priority in our lives.

This psalm reflects times in our lives when we are at our darkest. The last verse says "my friends and neighbors have turned against me because of you and now darkness is my only companion." Because of God, they abandoned the psalmist. If we live radically for Jesus, there will be some of our friends and family that will think we are ridiculous. However, this psalm STARTS with this: "You keep me safe, Lord God." Even in our darkest times, we have to trust that God is there and will protect us. We may not understand why we are suffering in such great despair, but The Lord promises to never leave us. Trust that God will be there for you.