Daily Devotion

30 April – “My Lord and my God.”

Audio

Today is Wednesday, the last day of April. Take a moment to be still. Be aware of His presence and His love.

We start by renewing our trust in God in the words of Psalm 16:

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
² I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

³ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

⁴ The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

⁵ The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸ I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.

The Scripture Reading is taken from John 20:19-29

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Reflection

The first recorded Sunday Service was a secretive gathering. It took place behind locked doors, with no welcome signs to be found. In that quiet, fearful setting, Jesus appeared — risen, and in His glorified body.

But Thomas was not there.

When the other disciples shared their witness of seeing the risen Lord, Thomas responded with understandable skepticism. He declared that unless he could see the marks of the nails in Jesus’ hands, touch them with his fingers, and place his hand on the wound in His side, he would not believe. It was a fair and honest request.

A week later, during what we might call the second Sunday Service, the disciples once again gathered behind closed doors. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared and, with grace and gentleness, invited Thomas: “Put your finger here… Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

We are not told whether Thomas actually touched Jesus. What we do know is that he responded with a profound cry of faith:

“My Lord and my God.”

Not the Lord or a God, but my Lord and my God.
It was a spontaneous confession, overflowing from the depths of his heart — a cry of personal faith and worship.

What about you?
Do you know Jesus in this deeply personal way?
Is this the heart of your faith — not merely knowing about Him, but knowing Him as your Lord and your God?
Or was it once so, but somewhere along the journey, has that personal connection faded?

Today, hear again the gracious promise of Jesus:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Let us end by affirming our faith in the Apostles Creed:

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Link to today’s Morning Office