Is Seeing Believing?

By Daphne Delay

People say seeing is believing, but I beg to differ. The greatest faith any of us could possess is the ability to believe without seeing. Jesus said,

"Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

We serve an invisible God—at least in form. None have seen the "shape" of God, yet this hasn't stopped us from loving Him. This is what makes Christianity amazing. We love and serve a God we cannot see. Peter said,

"Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).

When blue tooth technology emerged, I found it strange to see people walking around talking with themselves. This must be what it's like for unbelievers observing a Christian's life. They see us talking to the air in prayer, singing to something unseen, and rejoicing for no known reason.

But consider this: Jesus was a man of flesh and blood. People could see and touch Him, yet seeing they still didn't believe. Concerning this, Jesus said,

"The Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe" (John 5:37-38).

And everywhere Jesus went, He declared the Father—the invisible God.

Philip once said,

"Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us" (John 14:8).

Jesus said,

"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! …believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do" (John 14:9-11).

Jesus was the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). People became acquainted with God by observing Jesus. AND THIS IS TRUE OF US ALSO.

No one has seen God at any time, but we can declare Him. "...If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us" (1 John 4:12).

Love is the best way to declare and show the invisible God.

Faith in a God we cannot see must be declared by actions of love that can.

Using my previous example of a bluetooth phone device, we would assume people to be crazy if we couldn't "see" their device? In the same way, if my words do not have visible actions that follow, will people not assume I am simply a religious nut?

Therefore, in declaring the invisible God to those who do not believe, I must have more than words. I must have action.

When Philip struggled with seeing God, Jesus pointed him to visible signs of activity that proved God existed. This can be done in a variety of ways. It isn't always touchy-feely love that proves God exists. Love is expressed in patience, kindness, and unselfishness also—all of which do not have to have "preaching" involved.

The Bible says if I have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing—a useless nobody (1 Corinthians 13:2, AMP). So in order to effectively show an unseen God to others, I must have more than religion. I must have love.

However, true love doesn't overlook sin. Therefore, love may be required to speak truth. Jesus always declared the Father both in word and deed. He loved the sinner, yet preached against sin. Paul said,

"Speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

Jesus gave us an example of how to help people see without seeing, and therefore believe and rejoice in the invisible God who loved them first.

So maybe seeing is believing...?

Either way, I pray our lives will declare the Father to an unbelieving world just as Jesus did.

"Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17, GW).

Note: All scripture in this devotion is New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

Daily Devotion

Is Seeing Believing?

By Daphne Delay

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