A WORD IN SEASON TO THE WEARY
November 21🌷🌷
“…be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Eight days after His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Thomas. When the Lord first appeared to the disciples (John 20:19), Thomas was not with them. As soon as they saw him they told him, “We have seen the Lord” (v. 25). Thomas in disbelief replied, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” So, for the sake of Thomas the Lord appeared again and said to him, when he was with the others, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas answering exclaimed, “My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Thus we see that the power of His resurrection is experienced by us only as we believe His Word with simple child-like faith and do not depend on our own feelings or signs or dreams for our soulish satisfaction. A large number of believers depend upon signs for spiritual growth and for receiving the power of God, and as a result they remain barren spiritually. We shall have the privilege of enjoying His power as we exercise simple faith in claiming His promises, in reading His Word and obeying Him without question in every matter.
Then our Lord appeared to His disciples at Bethany before He ascended (Luke 24:50). He gave them the command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. “…a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). And thus they were made the witnesses of His ascension and were given the promise of His second glorious appearance, when, according to John 14:3, He will return to receive His own to Himself. We can experience the power of resurrection day by day, by preaching the Gospel to the people all around according to God’s plan. This power will also increase as we help other believers get ready for His second appearing, by taking part in the Sunday worship gatherings and Breaking of Bread regularly and faithfully.
