Thursday, August 12, 2021
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Author
Rachal Little
In these verses, Jesus appears to the disciples after his crucifixion and before his ascension into heaven. Needless to say, they were startled to see him. In fact, the text says they thought he was a ghost! Understanding their disbelief, Jesus invites the disciples to see that it is really him. He shows them his hands and his feet, he lets them touch his skin. To demonstrate that he is really alive, he asks them for something to eat and proceeds to eat a piece of fish in front of them. Ghosts do not have flesh and bone, and they certainly do not eat food. Seeing Jesus alive and in front of them filled the disciples with joy, but the text says they were still disbelieving and wondering.
So much of life and faith is about learning how to hold disbelief and wonder in tension. Jesus’s compassionate invitation for the disciples to touch him, to see him, to be dumbfounded by what they were experiencing is still the invitation extended to us today. In our wonder and disbelief – God goes with us. And not only does God go with us, but God gets up close – close enough for us to see and touch. Allow yourself the space to be bewildered. It just might be the thing that brings you face to face with God.
And so, may we not be afraid of our disbelief, may we learn to embrace wonder, and may we ponder the mystery of our faith – Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Amen.
Summer Devotional
God Goes With Us
This summer’s devotional is a walk through the Bible. Join our pastors and staff for daily reflections on scripture passages from Genesis to Revelation. In the beginning, God said, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Come and see how this covenant promise changes through time yet remains steadfast from generation to generation.
Each Sunday, Chris Holmes will share a short message on the texts for the week, and written reflections will go out every Monday through Thursday morning.
We wish you blessings and deeper faith this summer!
