Daily Worship

I Feel Shut Out

Albert Bogle April 20, 2017 0 3

John 20:24-29

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

I've often thought about Thomas and his approach to the resurrection. His reaction is actually no different from ours when we feel we've been left out. All the disciples who were close to Jesus had seen him within a few days of the resurrection. Thomas for whatever reason hadn't been around. He wasn't, ' in on the resurrection of Jesus', so to use another phase, he was kind of, 'down on it'. The strange thing is this - when Thomas was confronted with the risen Lord, he was the one disciple overcome with emotion. He was the first disciple to kneel and worship at Jesus’ feet. 

 

Perhaps those of us who say we're not emotional when it comes to faith experiences, have more to share in this area of worship than we dare to talk about. Think again the next time you're being overcritical about a situation, are you really just 'feeling a little bit shut out'?  Now that's a dangerous place to be as far as God's concerned. He might just turn up for you. He might just be looking over your shoulder right now!

 

Prayer

 

Lord,

I was upset

I felt shut out

Maybe I shut myself out

 

I was the only one missing 

Everyone else was there

They were all 'full of it' -

You know - 'over excited'.

It did sound exaggerated

It was the talk of the town.

 

I really didn’t want to hear it

I found it very hurtful,

almost insensitive:

it all sounded too good to be true.

So I hit out

I told them I was different,

wired in a different way.

I was rational, a reasonable man,

not easily moved or excited.

 

It all came out, tumbling out.

my fears,

my pre-conditions.

I told them

I need to see

I need to feel

I need to examine the facts.

 

Then you appeared.

I wasn’t expecting you.

You were different

but no different,

I saw it all with my own eyes

Unashamedly I worshipped You -

my Lord, my God.

 

Lord,

I’m sorry,

I'm such a contrary follower

I struggle with doubt

I struggle more with myself.

Then You surprise me 

by giving me the gift of faith!

The next thing I know I'm 

Choked up with emotion

Worshipping at your feet.

Lord, You're totally amazing!