Doubting?

Today’s Reading Matthew 28

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

How exciting this time must have been for the followers of Jesus---I can’t imagine the depth of excitement they must have felt.  What about the women at the tomb who met the angel, I bet their hearts felt like it would jump out of their chest, but what did the angel tell them---“do not be afraid”.   Then they saw him---I can just picture them face down on the ground with their hands holding on to his feet and worshiping him with everything they had in them.  Their savior, their king, their father---my savior, my king, my father!  I think if I would lie at the feet of Jesus and just worship him more often I would do so much better at living my life---let me restate that---I don’t think, I know I would!

 And here we go again with the chief priests and the elders devising another plan---have they not learned yet?  They are calling Jesus a deceiver and here they are trying to make a plan to deceive others about the truth of Jesus.  Once again I think fear is what is causing these men to do this, they are now afraid of being wrong---instead of accepting the truth, they accept fear and do everything in their power to make themselves look good, regardless of the truth that stands before them.  Sound like the world today? 

What must it had felt like to stand before Jesus, the Son of God, who has just risen from the grave and listened to the great commission.  How amazing that must have been.  The word tells us that they worshipped him when they saw him, but it also says that some doubted.  Can’t imagine how anyone can doubt at this point, but just another lesson for us to learn.  As I read this I begin to think about the commission that God has placed on my life---no different than what he told these disciples all those years ago.  I may have never had Jesus physically stand before me and tell me what to do, but his Spirit guides me each day and if I don’t do what he is guiding me to do, it is no fault but my own.  Am I any different than the doubter when I don’t listen to his call?  If I know that God knows what is best for me and I don’t do it---aren’t I really doubting him?  I think so!  So with all these events in the last chapter, my big “aha moment” comes from the one who doubted Jesus---God really does use everything for our benefit and his glory---we just have to be willing to see it.

I can’t believe it, I finally finished the book of Matthew, and it only took me 120 days and 78 posts, but I did it!  When I began this I thought I would go through a book in a month, maybe 2, boy was I wrong and I am glad I was---God slowed me down and opened my heart along the way.  Through this blog I have learned that you can’t have a schedule for everything, many things need to be on God’s time.  I cannot even begin to express how God has used this blog to change my life, he has not only opened my heart, but he has changed it, he has molded it into something closer to him.  I have many things to learn and many things to change about myself, but God is using this tool to conform me more into his image.  He is using this instrument to make me more accountable, to make me more honest with myself and I am so, so blessed to have each of you who read this along with me on this journey of life.

With Much Love and Blessings,

Rosanne