Have you ever noticed how easy it is to miss the point of a conversation? A husband is distracted by the game on TV while his wife is sharing important thoughts with him. A child is distracted by a video game while a mom is explaining important plans for the day. A Christian is distracted by rules for godly living in the Bible while the Apostle John is explaining the central message of Holy Scriptures.
It seems that many pastors and churches spend most of their time trying to get people to do good things and be good people. Christian publications thrive on publishing articles with titles like, “Seven Steps to being a Better Christian Parent,” “Five Important Elements of Successful Christian Living,” or “Three Keys for Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life.”
The Bible does contain wonderful godly wisdom and insight into life but its purpose is not to make you a success in life. In fact Jesus warns that following Him will actually lead to persecution. The Book of Acts graphically portrays what happens to St. Paul as he faithfully teaches about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
St. John reminds us in this verse that God’s ultimate will for you is not to become the next Christian "success story" but that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Prayer: O Lord, let me kneel before your cross and humbly confess my sins. Grant to me the faith to believe in the forgiveness, life and salvation that You won for me there. Encourage me with the promise of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Doubting Thomas
Peter Paul Rubens 1577 – 1640
oil on panel (146 × 233 cm) — 1613-1615
Museum Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp
Pastor Philip Quardokus
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