UNCOMMEN: 180 Degrees of ChangeSample

Thomas

Focus Verse: John 11:16 — "Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

Thomas gets all kinds of shade thrown his way because of his response in John 20:24-31. He even gets a nickname that has lasted a lifetime—Doubting Thomas.

Our focus verse is taken from a few chapters before that when Jesus was raising Lazarus from the dead. Thomas took a 180 in the wrong direction when stating he wouldn't believe if he didn't see the holes and the wound in Jesus. 

It's essential to be sure when you are in the middle of your 180 that it's always turning toward God. Thomas saw Jesus do signs and miracles over and over again. Thomas was the only disciple mentioned by name in that story. 

There will be times when we turn toward God and times in which we find that we have turned away from God. The turning away from God may not be as obvious and may have happened over a long time. Notice that God remains the same, and we seem to be going around and around.

Fortunately, Thomas took another 180 after that time in the upper room and went on to bring Christianity into India. Thomas was killed for his faith in roughly 72 AD. 

While most of us won't be asked to die talking about our faith (some may), we are told to go and make disciples of all people. We will all have our moments of doubt, but at the moment of Thomas's greatest doubt, Jesus showed up. Notice Jesus didn't show up to condemn Thomas; he showed up to provide Thomas what he needed—His Savior!

Are you in need of a 180 toward God?

Uncommen Questions:

Do you find you are in the middle of a 180 toward God? Or away from God?

Do you find you need proof to believe in Jesus just as Thomas did?

Uncommen Challenge:

I challenge you and me to be a Thomas that is turning toward God and take the message of Christianity to someone who needs to hear it.

Scripture References:
John 20:24-31
Joh 11:16