How to See and Believe the Truth
Based on John 20:29 (NLT)
Then Jesus told him, “You
believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing
me.”
1. Seeing Isn’t Always Believing
We often say "seeing is
believing," but our senses can deceive us. Magic tricks create illusions,
microscopes reveal invisible worlds, and scientists confirm realities like dark
matter—none of which we can perceive unaided. Even Thomas’s faith in the risen
Jesus was based on physical proof (John 20:24–28). Yet Jesus declares a greater
blessing for those who trust beyond sight. This challenges our
dependence on tangible evidence and invites us into a faith rooted in spiritual
revelation.
2. How Do We Know the Truth?
If sight is unreliable, how can we
discern truth? Jesus never asked for blind faith. He provided overwhelming
evidence:
- Miracles validating His divine
authority (John 10:37–38),
- Fulfilled prophecies confirming His
identity (Luke 24:44),
- Transformed lives of His followers
(Acts 4:13),
- The empty tomb and eyewitness
testimonies (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
God also gives us His Word, the Holy Spirit’s guidance (John 16:13), and the witness of creation (Romans 1:20). Faith is reasonable—built on God’s consistent revelation, not wishful thinking.
3. The Blessing of Unseen Faith
Jesus calls believers
"blessed" (Greek: makarios—deeply joyful, divinely
favored) not because they ignore evidence, but because they embrace God’s
revelation beyond the physical. This faith:
- Deepens intimacy with God (2
Corinthians 5:7),
- Transforms our perspective on trials (1
Peter 1:6–8),
- Anchors us in eternal hope (Hebrews
11:1).
Thomas’s faith began with sight; ours begins with the Spirit’s witness to the truth (John 15:26).
Application Questions
- Examine: Where do I demand "proof"
from God instead of trusting His character?
- Reflect: How has God already provided
evidence of His truth in my life, Scripture, or creation?
- Respond: What step can I take this week to
strengthen my faith in God’s unseen work? (e.g., studying prophecy,
journaling His faithfulness).
A Short Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see Your truth beyond what is visible. Forgive my
doubts, and anchor my heart in the evidence You’ve already given—Your Word,
Your creation, and the cross. Help me to live as one “blessed,” trusting Your
promises even when I can’t see the way forward. Strengthen my faith to believe,
and in believing, find joy. Amen.
=====
p.s. This post was the output
from DeepSeek from my prompt:
Improve and complete the following devotion:
How to See and Believe the Truth
John 20:29 NLT
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me.
Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
#1 We believe because we see - "seeing is
believing"
But magic shows tell us that what we see is an illusion.
Other times we need special instruments to see, such as
microscopes, to see germs and viruses.
Certain things are not visible at all, like dark energy and
dark matter.
So seeing may not be true, and not seeing does not mean it does
not exist.
#2 So, what else can we do to make sure we are believing in
the right things - the truth?
Jesus did not just tell us to believe what he claimed and
said.
He did miracles and many other things as evidence for our
faith in Him.
#3 What did Jesus mean by "Blessed"?
Application Questions
A Short prayer
===========
Extra Devotion:
1. Evidence Precedes Faith
- Jesus performed miracles (healings, resurrections,
nature miracles) to demonstrate His divine authority (John 20:30–31).
- Fulfilled prophecy (e.g., Micah 5:2 → Jesus’ birth
in Bethlehem) confirmed His identity.
- The resurrection itself was verified by
eyewitnesses, the empty tomb, and transformed lives (1 Cor. 15:6; Acts
2:32).
▶️ Key insight: God
invites us to investigate evidence (Acts 17:11), not ignore
our minds. Faith rests on God’s demonstrated reliability.
2. Evidence ≠ Compelled
Belief
Even with overwhelming proof:
- Some saw Jesus raise Lazarus but still plotted to
kill Him (John 11:45–53).
- Religious leaders witnessed miracles but dismissed
them as demonic (Matt. 12:24).
- Thomas saw the risen Christ but still needed
to touch His wounds (John 20:27).
▶️ Why? Evidence
alone can’t override a hardened heart. Faith requires humility to
accept truth (John 5:44) and the Holy Spirit’s illumination (1
Cor. 2:14).
3. Unseen Faith is
Evidence-Based Too
Jesus’ words to Thomas
("blessed are those who believe without seeing") don’t
endorse baseless faith. Later believers rely on:
- Apostolic testimony (John 20:30–31; 1 John 1:1–3)
- God’s track record in Scripture (Rom. 15:4)
- The Spirit’s witness (Rom. 8:16)
- Creation’s testimony (Rom. 1:20)
▶️ "Believing
without seeing" means trusting God’s reliable revelation despite
lacking physical sight of Jesus—not ignoring evidence.
Application Questions
- What evidence for Jesus’ claims resonates most
with you? (e.g., historical witnesses, transformed lives,
fulfilled prophecy).
- Where might you be demanding new signs
instead of resting on God’s established evidence?
- How does Hebrews 11:1 redefine "faith"
beyond mere wishful thinking?
A Short Prayer
Lord, thank You for giving
solid evidence of Your truth. Forgive me when I overlook Your past faithfulness
or demand new signs. Open my eyes to see the proof You’ve already provided—in
Scripture, history, and Your work in my life. Strengthen my trust in Your
reliable character, even when I can’t see the next step. Amen.
"Faith is not a leap in
the dark; it’s a step into the light of God’s proven faithfulness."
You've identified a critical
truth: Miraculous power alone cannot confirm divine character. Scripture
explicitly warns that false prophets and evil forces can perform "signs
and wonders" (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). To discern whether
healing (or any miracle) comes from God, we must examine deeper evidence.
Here’s a biblical framework:
1. The Source Test: Who
Gets the Glory?
- God’s healings glorify Christ,
affirm His Word, and call people to repentance and
worship (Acts 3:8–9, 19; John 9:24–38).
- Counterfeit healings draw attention to
the performer, promote false doctrine, or
enable sin (Acts 8:9–11, 18–23; Revelation 13:3–4).
"By their fruit you will
recognize them" (Matthew 7:16).
2. The Consistency Test:
Alignment with God’s Nature
- God’s works reflect His holiness, love, and
truth. He never contradicts His character or Word (1 John 4:1–3;
Deuteronomy 13:1–4).
- Satan’s power may mimic God’s outwardly but
ultimately promotes deception, bondage, or destruction (John
8:44; 10:10).
- Example: Jesus healed to restore (Luke
13:16); demonic forces may "heal" to control or corrupt.
3. The Purpose Test: Why
Is Power Displayed?
- God’s miracles confirm His gospel (Mark
16:20), advance His Kingdom (Luke 11:20), and serve
others (Acts 10:38).
- Demonic power seeks to distort truth, create
dependency on humans, or divert worship (Revelation
16:14).
Jesus said, "Do not
believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though
you do not believe me, believe the works" (John 10:37–38).
His works proved His alignment with the Father’s nature and mission.
4. The Ultimate Evidence:
The Cross and Resurrection
- God’s supreme sign wasn’t just healing—it was Jesus’
sacrificial death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 1:22–23). Satan
has no power to redeem sin or conquer death.
- True divine power is marked by suffering
love, not just supernatural displays (Philippians 2:5–8).
How to Discern Authentic Divine
Healing
|
Test |
From God |
From Evil Forces |
|
Source |
Glorifies Christ |
Glorifies humans/creatures |
|
Consistency |
Aligns with Scripture |
Twists/contradicts Scripture |
|
Purpose |
Leads to repentance/worship |
Leads to deception/fear |
|
Fruit |
Produces holiness/freedom |
Produces bondage/addiction |
Application
- Ask these questions when encountering
supernatural claims:
- Does this affirm Jesus as Lord alone?
- Does it align with God’s character in Scripture?
- Does it produce lasting spiritual freedom?
- Study 1 John 4:1–6: Test spirits by
confessing Christ’s incarnation.
- Anchor in the gospel: God’s greatest
miracle—Christ’s resurrection—is the bedrock of discernment (Romans 1:4).
A Prayer for Discernment
"Father, open my eyes to
see beyond power displays. Give me wisdom to test every spirit by Your Word and
Your Son’s cross. Where Satan masquerades as light, expose the lie. Where You
are truly at work, let me bow in awe. Keep me anchored in the resurrection—Your
irrefutable proof of love, truth, and authority. Amen."
The enemy can counterfeit power,
but he cannot counterfeit holy love, redemptive suffering,
or resurrection life. True faith rests not in signs, but in
the Person they point to (John 5:39).
===
- Christological Test
- "Does this glorify Jesus as Lord?" (1
John 4:2-3)
- Satan distracts from Christ; God centers Him
(Colossians 1:18).
- Scriptural Alignment
- "Does it align with God's revealed
Word?" (Isaiah 8:20)
- God never contradicts Scripture; counterfeits
twist it (Acts 17:11).
- Fruit Evaluation
- "What lasting fruit does it produce?" (Matthew
7:16-20)
- God's work brings freedom, holiness, love
(Galatians 5:22-23); evil brings bondage, fear, confusion (2 Timothy
1:7).
- Motive Examination
- "Who benefits? Who receives worship?" (Daniel
3:12-18)
- God's power serves others; counterfeits seek
control (Acts 8:18-23).
- Cross-Centered Lens
- "Does it point to Christ's
sacrifice?" (1 Corinthians 1:23)
- Satan avoids the cross; God's power flows through
weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- Community Confirmation
- "Do mature believers affirm this?" (Proverbs
11:14)
- God confirms truth through His Body (Acts
15:1-29).
- Spirit Witness
- "Does the Holy Spirit confirm this?" (Romans
8:16)
- Test spirits through prayer and discernment (1
John 4:1).
Critical Questions to Ask
|
If someone claims divine
power... |
God's Authentic Work |
Counterfeit Work |
|
Source of Glory? |
Christ exalted |
Self/others exalted |
|
Scriptural Faithfulness? |
Aligns perfectly |
Selectively uses Bible |
|
End Result? |
Freedom in Christ |
Dependency on person |
|
View of Jesus? |
Fully God and Savior |
Diminished divinity |
Discernment Prayer
"Father, give me wisdom to
test every spirit (1 John 4:1). Anchor me in Your Word, sharpen my sensitivity
to Your Spirit, and guard me from deception. When signs amaze me, turn my eyes
to Christ's cross—Your ultimate proof of love and truth. Expose what is false,
and confirm what is from You. Amen."
"Beloved, do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
—1 John 4:1
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