The Word is the agency of both your salvation and sanctification.
Jesus Himself characterized believers as those who abide in His Word and obey His commandments. They receive the Word with an attitude of submission and humility.
What is your attitude toward God’s Word? Do I pass the test of true faith?
One of His disciples, Thomas, people think of a doubter. But if we look beyond his doubt, you will see he was a characterized by something that should mark every true believer: an intense desire to be with Christ. As it is written ” I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.” (Psalms 119:112).
The follower of Christ will have an intense desire to be in Christ’s presence.
Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16). That’s a pessimistic attitude, but it shows his courage and desire to be with Christ, whether in life or death. Thomas expected the worst, but was willing to go anyway.
Can you identify with Thomas?
Is Christ an integral part of your daily decisions and activities that life without Him is unthinkable?
Do you love Him so much you long to see Him?
We thank the Lord for His presence and power in our life. Amen.
I recently learned the following perspective, which encourages me about my namesake Thomas!
When Thomas appeared to be “doubting,” he was actually OBEYING Jesus from when Jesus said this earlier in Matt 24:
“23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!”
Also i get what you mean by negative thinking, but Jesus did call us to die to our selfish selves, and all of the disciples but one literally did end up dying for Jesus.