Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Yesterday the Holy Spirit ‘Spirit-dropped’ three simple words to summarize this week… JESUS IS REAL! He confirmed with Our Daily Bread video devotional title Not Just a Manger

Today’s scripture, John 20:25-29 (NLT) shares…
[25]it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” [26] Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. [27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” [28] “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. [29] Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Consider…
This has been a fun and easy week of writing, because the Holy Spirit used birthdays of people whom I love and cherish, to see Jesus in very real ways. Recall I saw…

• Jesus is the descendant of David, same as my Granddaughter is from my line. (Matthew 1:1)
• Jesus was a man who was about thirty when He began His ministry, just like my baby boy is a man who just turned thirty. (Luke 3:23)
• Jesus had a believing, reflective and faithful mother, just like I did. (Luke 2:18)
• Jesus is an awesome big brother, just like my beloved big brother. (Romans 8:29)
• Jesus is a lifelong friend who’s been there all the time, just like one of my oldest dearest friends. (John 15:14-15)

I am grateful for all of my close relationships that makes Jesus even closer and more real to me.

In today’s scripture we read the familiar story about Thomas refusing to believe Jesus had risen unless he could personally see Him for himself. Despite all the evidence and testimony of the Bible, many people today are still looking for a ‘REAL ID’ before believing JESUS IS REAL.

Unfortunately, failure to believe JESUS IS REAL, makes many of those same people question the reality of God, despite Creation to the contrary. Or the other popular disbelief, that JESUS IS REAL, He’s just not God!

That reminds me of John 14:8-9 (NLT) where…
[8] Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” [9] Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

Too many people, believers included, want Jesus to do a show and tell before we will believe. However, Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) explains…
[6] And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

You see, just like I sent Birthday Blessings to all of my beloved people without questioning their validity or requiring ‘REAL ID’ proof, I also love on JESUS because I He’s just as real to me!

Thus, I fully embrace John 1:14 (NLT) that testifies…
[14] So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Just like my mother and big brother came before me, therefore the only proof that I have of our relationship is they’re word, and the life we’ve lived together, Jesus has made Himself known by the testimony of Scripture and Him living in us.

That’s why like the Apostle Paul I declare with Galatians 2:20 (NLT)…
[20] My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Living by trusting, triggers a 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) daily reminder…
[7] For we live by believing and not by seeing.

By the way, Oxford Languages defines believe as accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.

So here’s the irony, even when we rely on what we see, we believe our eyes are not lying to us.

Literally everything in our lives is based on believing. Thus, we don’t really have a believing problem, when it comes to the realness of Jesus, we have a ‘choosing/wanting to believe’ issue.

That’s what Romans 1:25 (NLT) describes…
[25] They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Speaking of the truth about God, the Creator Himself, Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT) tells us…
[15] Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, [16] for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. [17] He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Notice Paul began with declaring Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. I believe the Holy Spirit revealed and inspired him to write that because God wants to be real to us.

The Holy Spirit entered Ezekiel 36:23-26 (NLT) into evidence to prove this fact…
[23] I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign LORD, then the nations will know that I am the LORD. [24] For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. [25] “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. [26] And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

You see God did/does tangible things so that we can relate to Him tangibly.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT) provides more living proof…
[6] For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Which brings me to my close, with the help of some lyrics from today’s song by Pastor John P Kee…

Jesus is real I know the Lord is real to me
Jesus is real I know the Lord is real to me

I can feel Him in my hands
Feel Him in my feet
I know that the Lord will, take good care of me
For I know, oh
Jesus is real
I can feel Him in my heart
Feel Him in my soul
I can even feel Him, from the crown of my head to my toes
For I know, oh
Jesus is real

That’s it, the true reason for the CHRIST-mass season is to make known the truth that JESUS IS REAL!

BONUS EXHORTATION from the Holy Spirit, by way of the Anthony Brown and Jonathan McReynolds lyrics, tell us to declare…

I only got time for the real this year
I only got time for the real this year
I only got time for the real this year
And it don’t get no realer than You

And we can declare that because as their verse points out…

Who was right there (Right there)
Every time that you call? (My God is)
And who was right there (Right there)
To pick u up when you fall? (My God is)
Who was right there (Ooh)
To meet every one of your needs? (My God is) Say
Yeah, and who makes way after way (Right there)
And never forsakes you and never leaves? (Right there)

So like the pre-chorus, resolve…

I don’t care what the world’s saying
I’ve seen the works of His hand
He’s come through time and time again
You can’t make me doubt Him
I don’t care what the world’s saying
I’ve seen the works of his hand
He’s come through time and time again
And you can’t make me doubt Him

Thus why…
I only got time for the real this year
I only got time for the real this year
I only got time for the real this year
And it don’t get no realer than You

The truth is JESUS IS REAL, regardless of whether you believe Him or not.

But Him being real to you is ‘souly’ your choice! Choose wisely 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Today’s song is…
Jesus Is Real

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)