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  LORD AND GOD
  by Selwyn Hughes
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Summary: Jesus Christ accepted worship as God, demonstrating His divine
nature.

Topics: "Divinity Of Christ", "Worship And Adoration"
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 16:16, John 14:9, John 20:28-29, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 5:12

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DESCRIPTION
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Selwyn Hughes delves into the profound moment when Thomas declared 'My
Lord and my God!' upon seeing Jesus after His resurrection, highlighting
the disciples' struggle to fully comprehend the divinity of Christ.
Despite their Jewish upbringing and belief in one God, the disciples
found it challenging to grasp the concept of Jesus being both man and
God. Thomas, often labeled as a doubter, boldly acknowledged the deity
of Jesus, affirming Him as Lord and God. Hughes emphasizes that Jesus
accepted worship as God Himself, reinforcing the truth of His divine
nature and the importance of recognizing and honoring Him as such.

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CONTENT
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"Thomas said to him, ' My Lord and my God!' " (v. 28)

For reading & meditation:

John 20:24-31

Jesus Christ accepted worship as God. What other person in his right
mind has ever made such a claim? Earlier Simon Peter had made the
confession "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt.
16:16), which was a profound and powerful statement. Some Bible scholars
believe Peter did not perceive the complete significance of the words
when he uttered them, but came to see their full meaning later. The
twelve disciples, we must remember, were Jews to a man. They had been
steeped in their high and ancient faith, and the belief in one God was
firmly embedded in their minds. "Hear O Israel," they had said a
thousand times, "the Lord our God is one Lord." They were sure the
Messiah, the Promised One, would come, but they hardly expected God to
come Himself, in Person, and in the garb of a working man. It was
difficult for the disciples to grasp the doctrine of Christ as we know
it today, or even the truth of the Trinity. They glimpsed it but did not
fully understand it. It was Thomas the doubter, as we call him, who
stepped nearer to the truth in the Upper Room after Christ had come back
from the grave. If Jesus was a good man but not God then when Thomas
said, "My Lord and my God," He should have turned to Thomas and told
him: "You can admire Me but you must not worship Me. I am not God.' He
didn't because He is God, and thus the right recipient of worship.

Lord Jesus, I stand in awe and almost dumbfounded wonder at the fact
that You being God came to this world as a working man. My heart echoes
Thomas's cry: "My Lord and my God." And in worshipping You, Lord Jesus,
I know I am worshipping God. Amen.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/selwyn-hughes/lord-and-god/
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