February 12th, 2021
Heal Devotional Series – Week 1 – Do You Want to be Well - Friday – Shirley Davis
Turn First to Jesus
Psalm 103:2-3 (GW)
"Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases."
It would seem that to ask a sick person, "Do you want to be well?" is ridiculous! Yet we know that Jesus never was silly or wasted words. We do not know precisely what the man in the story suffered from as he waited for a chance to be miraculously healed at the Pool of Bethesda, but John 5:5 tells us he had suffered from a "deep-seated and lingering disorder for 38 years!" (AMP). He was severely crippled and dependent on others to move him and must have had a genuinely pitiful life, suffering immeasurably for so many years.
As humans, though, we are incredibly adaptable. Even with a chronic illness, we learn to become accustomed to our new limitations as time passes. We get somewhat used to a new diet; maybe make a new circle of friends who better understand our situation. After many years, despite the continual pain and hardship, we may settle into a degree of being "comfortable" with our case. But we also tend to lose hope of ever getting better as we are disappointed time and again—we are wary of daring to hope one more time!
Perhaps, in such a case, it is possible actually to hesitate if asked that question. But meeting Jesus gives us just that opportunity! If we dare to hope for healing or a better situation and trust in Jesus, we find it changes our life. Are we willing to do that or just continue living the life we have got accustomed to today?
In this different age of knowledge and technology, perhaps this presents differently. When we become ill, maybe our first action is to look up our symptoms on Web MD and begin the process of self-diagnosis: perhaps we can change our diet to help or investigate other possible symptoms. Instead, maybe we should turn first to Jesus and God's Word to seek healing and how GOD wants us to handle it.
Turn First to Jesus
Psalm 103:2-3 (GW)
"Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases."
It would seem that to ask a sick person, "Do you want to be well?" is ridiculous! Yet we know that Jesus never was silly or wasted words. We do not know precisely what the man in the story suffered from as he waited for a chance to be miraculously healed at the Pool of Bethesda, but John 5:5 tells us he had suffered from a "deep-seated and lingering disorder for 38 years!" (AMP). He was severely crippled and dependent on others to move him and must have had a genuinely pitiful life, suffering immeasurably for so many years.
As humans, though, we are incredibly adaptable. Even with a chronic illness, we learn to become accustomed to our new limitations as time passes. We get somewhat used to a new diet; maybe make a new circle of friends who better understand our situation. After many years, despite the continual pain and hardship, we may settle into a degree of being "comfortable" with our case. But we also tend to lose hope of ever getting better as we are disappointed time and again—we are wary of daring to hope one more time!
Perhaps, in such a case, it is possible actually to hesitate if asked that question. But meeting Jesus gives us just that opportunity! If we dare to hope for healing or a better situation and trust in Jesus, we find it changes our life. Are we willing to do that or just continue living the life we have got accustomed to today?
In this different age of knowledge and technology, perhaps this presents differently. When we become ill, maybe our first action is to look up our symptoms on Web MD and begin the process of self-diagnosis: perhaps we can change our diet to help or investigate other possible symptoms. Instead, maybe we should turn first to Jesus and God's Word to seek healing and how GOD wants us to handle it.
Posted in Heal Beyond Brokenness
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