Seeing is believing

"Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.""  (John 20:29)

Last week we spoke about if we believe what do we believe.  This week I want to ask you about explaining, or telling about what you believe, know  For instance we live on the prairie -- I love it here, on the prairie, but I can't tell you how many times I have tried to explain "rolling hills," not "flat."  Or the wind -- have you been asked (or told) about the wind?  I know a few people who had to be here, experience "our" wind, before they believed me that 20mph winds were "calm."

Our Gospel reading, in John, is Jesus appearing "again" to the Disciples.  He has now appeared to quite a few  -- Mary, on the road to Emmaus, the Disciples in the upper room and now he is there again.  This time, a week after the first time everyone, including Thomas, are there.  Remember Thomas is the one called "the twin."  (v. 24)  He has probably been mistaken for Jesus on a number of occasions so, understandably(?), he questions if the others really saw Jesus or just "thought" they saw Jesus.  We can believe because we both "know the rest of the story" and because we have seen, know and believe the changes that happened in these believers' lives.

As we are sharing our faith do people see the difference in our lives?  As we are encouraging others to follow where God is leading do people see us following where God is leading, doing what God is asking us to do?  A sign, given me by a friend, says "Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you......."  Do we?  Something to think about.....