My Lord and My God
Month 4: Is Jesus Really God? · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 20:24–29
24 Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Memory Verse
““Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!””— John 8:58 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Exodus 20–22
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 101 of 365 — God's laws for living together as His people.)The Heart of It
Thomas had a hard time believing. When the other disciples told him Jesus was alive, he said he wouldn't believe unless he could touch the nail marks himself. We sometimes call him "Doubting Thomas." But Jesus didn't scold him or shut him out. A week later Jesus appeared again. He turned straight to Thomas and gently said, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands… Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Jesus met Thomas right where his doubts were. And when Thomas finally saw, he didn't just say, "Okay, you're alive." He fell down and said the deepest words in the whole book: "My Lord and my God!"
This is a Heart Matters day, so here's the question for each of us. It's good to know Jesus is God. But have you let Him be your Lord and your God? There's a big difference between agreeing that something is true and giving your whole heart to it. Thomas didn't just accept a fact. He surrendered his life. And notice Jesus' last words: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." That's us! We weren't in the room. But God has given us strong reasons and trustworthy eyewitnesses. And He invites us to respond, not with a shrug, but with worship. Faith isn't pretending we have no questions. It's bringing our questions to Jesus and then trusting the One who answers.
Around the Table
Thomas wasn't sure Jesus was alive. But then he saw Him! Then he said, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus is our Lord and God too.
Let's do it: Put your hand on your heart and say, "Jesus, You are my Lord and my God!"
Jesus didn't get angry at Thomas's doubts. He helped him. What does that tell us about bringing our hard questions to Jesus?
Let's talk: What's the difference between knowing Jesus is God and making Him your Lord?
Thomas worshiped Jesus and called Him "My Lord and my God!" Jesus didn't correct him. And no mere prophet or angel would ever accept worship like that (compare ).
Let's go deeper: Is it possible to believe all the right facts about Jesus and still not have surrendered to Him? What would surrender actually look like in your week?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's something you had to see or try yourself before you really believed it? Jesus gave Thomas proof, and He's given us good reasons too.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Having doubts doesn't make you a bad Christian. Jesus welcomed Thomas's questions and answered them. We can bring our hard questions to God honestly. And we can let friends ask theirs too. We answer "with gentleness and respect" (), instead of acting like questions are dangerous.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Don't miss that Jesus receives Thomas's worship in . Throughout Scripture, faithful angels and prophets refuse worship and redirect it to God alone (; ). Jesus, by contrast, accepts it. That only makes sense if He is God. For your home, the pastoral lesson is just as vital. Jesus did not shame the doubter. Many kids quietly carry questions they're afraid to voice, because they fear being thought "bad Christians." Make your table the safest place in the world to ask the hard thing. A child who can doubt out loud with you is far better protected than one who buries questions until a doubting professor or feed surfaces them later. Welcome the questions. Then point them, like Jesus did with Thomas, toward the evidence and toward worship.
Draws on: Natasha Crain, Talking with Your Kids about God.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus welcomes our questions. Thank You that He meets us in our doubts. We say with Thomas, 'My Lord and my God!' Help us not just to know about You. Help us give You our whole hearts. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus isn't just true. He's mine. "My Lord and my God!"