December 13 Healing Word

John 5:7-9 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
 
THE crippled man needed help to get him into the waters that might heal him. Where was the compassion of strangers? Would no one help him for the 38 years he lived in this misery? Others’ own desires, apparently, came first. But then Jesus came. With one word, the Lord’s kindness changed a life.
   What do we learn from this? It is essential to first know it is God, not a pool of water, not an icon, nor a physical charm that heals. Instead, it is God’s Word. Psalms 103:1-3 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. How comforting to know we don’t need particular friends, caring strangers or a pool of water to be healed. Both physical and spiritual healing come from the Lord.
   Do you believe this? Does the Lord heal all diseases? What about the sicknesses that lead to disability or death? What about those born with ongoing illness? Can we believe the Bible when we succumb to sickness even as we pray for them?
   What Jesus taught the crippled man, those watching that day, and what the Living Word teaches us today we can learn from the apostle Paul’s testimony: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 
   The psalmist and the apostle wrote of God’s sovereign authority to care for his people. Nothing is beyond the reach of God’s Word. In faith, we must believe that God has the power to heal all physical diseases. We must pray in faith for God to heal not only physical diseases but against spiritual sickness that leads to eternal death. God is, indeed, sufficient for our daily and our eternal care.
   In faith, also, we must receive God’s will regarding our prayers. I believe all of us know that God will act to heal physical and spiritual sickness in some, and in others he will not. Yet, we are to faithfully pray, seeking the Lord’s Word as a faithful expectation that his purpose will be done.
   Trust, then, his healing mercy to care for those in need. Believe his healing truth to guide us to live in his commands. Be compassionate, also, to “stir the water” of God’s power into broken lives. Speak his healing words to the sick and weak. Care for the hurting. Be a difference. Bring God’s healing word to a broken world. As the crippled man sought compassionate people to help him to the water. Be kind to help those in need to know God’s healing words for them.
 
Prayer: Lord God, you are mighty to save our souls and heal our bodies. I pray for compassion to care for the many who need a word from you. Amen.