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Listen while you read: "I Am Not Skilled To Understand"1 (Lyrics) |
John 20:25 – They told [Thomas], "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." (NLT)
The evidence was overwhelming. We followed something that we feared.
Panthertown Valley is just outside Cashiers, North Carolina, USA. Those who are looking for a directional sign will be disappointed. But my brother and I had directions. Numerous trails run through more than 10,000 acres of protected land, and we planned to hike one of them.
As we made our way along the trail, we noticed scat. Since it was filled with berries, we knew what kind of animal had left it. Though we enjoyed the scenery, our eyes roamed our surroundings. Every noise caused our hearts to race and our eyes to dance. When we reached the end of the trail, a tree with claw marks greeted us: a bear scratching post. We never saw Smokey, but the evidence convinced us that he was near.
Thomas wasn't convinced by the evidence. Jesus had been resurrected from the grave. Women saw him, as did some of the other disciples, but eyewitness reports weren't enough for Thomas. He wanted to see the marks. So, Jesus showed him. Then, Thomas felt ashamed that he'd asked.
The evidence for God's existence seems overwhelming to me — but not all agree. When I look at nature and how natural laws operate according to an unseen plan, I wonder how anyone could doubt — or even deny — the existence of a higher being. Theologians disagree over the methods that God used to create. Did He initiate a big bang or perhaps use evolution as His process? Or was everything a fiat act of creation out of nothing?
Jesus showed Thomas the evidence that he had asked for and listened as Thomas shamefully confessed Him as Lord and Saviour. He should have believed without the evidence. God won't appear to me and say, "Yes, I exist, and I created," but He has given me enough evidence to know that He does and did.
The evidence at Panthertown Valley convinced me and my brother that a bear was in the area — whether we physically saw him with our eyes or not. The universe — along with a still small voice that speaks to my spirit — convinces me that God exists, loves me, and wants to be included in my life. What I do with the evidence is up to me.
Evidence for God's existence is overwhelming. Believe that He exists, and invite Him into your life.
Prayer: Father, we acknowledge You as the Creator and Governor of our universe and our lives. Amen.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – In Canada — Pray for those in small or rural churches, many of whom are struggling without adequate leaders or funds to minister to their communities. Give them faith and courage to reach out to neighbours and those who are not involved in worship and fellowship. Pray for their dependence on God to grow as they trust him for guidance and provision.
Pray: "December 3, 2024: Asking prayers for a young man , Ben who is suffering with brain cancer —..." 
Great illustration/application. Thank you!
Thanks for the great reminder, Martin. Helps me.
My feelings exactly!! Thanks.
(B.C.)
Well written, Martin! Thanks for sharing.
(Ontario, Canada)
He is alive both now and forever more, Amen.
Blessings to you Martin!
Beautiful illustration. Much appreciation for your writing. Blessings to your day.
Enjoyed your story today. The scat part made me laugh. Love your folksy way of telling The Story.
Thanks.
Dear Martin Wiles,
Thank you for presenting evidence and challenge to exert faith.
Keep writing.
Amen Martin. Those who have eyes let them see and those who have ears let them hear. Yet so many refuse to see or hear.
Blessings.
Dear Martin,
Thank you for the encouraging devotional and the reminder that God has provided many examples that he exists, and faith is what we need to practice and keep.
Hi Martin,
A great devotional on the evidence of God and who can deny it, or Him? And yet it is up to us as individuals as to what we do with that information.
Blessings.
Martin, this was an amazing devotional today! I was ‘walking the trail’ with you and your brother as I read about the evidence you witnessed! I too am overwhelmed by the evidence of God’s existence and long for others to ‘see it too’ and then accept His invitation.
Blessings!
Good morning Martin,
Good words this morning, there are times when we wonder and then like you and your brother noticed the evidence of a bear in the woods so we see the evidence of God in our lives as we walk the trails of life.
Thank you for writing.
Good morning Martin,
Beautiful devotional! We are so fortunate each day that we can see and enjoy the evidence of all things created by our awesome God. His works are ever inspiring whether they are very minuscule or magnanimous.
Blessings for your writings.
(B.C.)
I have to admit, I have an affinity for poor Thomas who does get a bad press.
Who else in the scriptures would have shown us what he did.
I am a person who believes because of experiences I have had. Not because of what somebody tells me.
I suspect God leads us to belief in ways suited to a person’s individual personality.
Nicely put Martin,
As a believer for over 50 years, I, too, grapple with the easy dismissal of God
I believe for many that to simply ignore the evidence of God is the easy way out. Such an individual does not have to struggle with what you and I see as the obvious – that a higher power must be at work; that to overlook intelligence as a part of all that we are and all that we see is to defy logic; that such denial of God requires the denial of Jesus, even when historians (Christian or not) accept Jesus as the most influential person in all of history; unable to grapple with the “Way” and “How” question of his significance.
There is nothing that saddens me more that denial of God has become so socially acceptable. So many then turn a blind eye to truth; and in doing so, miss out on so much that God has in store for them, and being content to be so much less than they could be
Blessings.