The Sin Sick Heart (Luke 5:31)

And Jesus answered and said to them, " It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. (Luke 5:31 NASB)

Last night, I had already snuggled into my warm bed when a dear friend called. It was obvious from the description of the ongoing chest pain that a heart attack was in progress. Yesterday morning, he was running errands, doing a little paperwork, eating a ham sandwich at a country store. He was going about his life without a thought in the world to the latest advances in medical treatment. 

At 9:20 pm, his interests completely changed. When that pain whammed into his chest, he wanted a doctor and he desperately wanted that doctor as fast as possible. I don't recommend this, but he drove himself as fast as he could go to the ER. Getting to a cardiologist was his highest priority, and rightly so. A cardiologist was the only one who could help him. In the ER, intravenous nitroglycerin and morphine finally eased his pain, but it wasn't until the cardiologist took him to the cath lab, removed the clot blocking his artery, and inserted a stent that the problem was adequately addressed. He didn't really want a doctor when he thought he was well, but he surely did when he realized he was sick. 

Priorities and desires can turn in an instant, can't they?  The thing we care about the least can suddenly be the thing we care about the most. That's the difference between a person who thinks they are well and one who knows they are sick. The one who recognizes their illness becomes very concerned about regaining their health. 

It's the same way with our spiritual hearts. Until we recognize our need, we don't worry much about healing it. That was the problem with the scribes and Pharisees. They were sinners in desperate need of a savior, but didn't know it. What made Matthew different was that he knew he was a sinner and he knew he needed a Savior. When Jesus showed up, Matthew grabbed on for dear life and was not about to let go. Those people at Matthew's party were the same way. Jesus had something they needed, and they were making friends with the only One who could provide it. It's how we all come to Jesus. We see our need and reach out to the only One who can meet that need. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will be acutely aware of our sin-sick state and will be satisfied with nothing less than the direct intervention of the Great Physician. Pray for healing of sin sickened hearts

The Great Physician part 2

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. (Luke 4:40 NASB)

There are two very wonderful points that remain in this verse, and they are too good to miss. First of all is an understanding of who Jesus healed that day. Two words indicate the extent of the crowd - all and each. ALL the people who had anyone sick brought them (that implies a crowd) and Jesus was healing EACH ONE, which tells us that, even in a crowd, He recognized the individual. It also tells us that He did not discriminate. He did not heal only children, only good people, or only rich people. He healed every individual, regardless of why they were sick or what they had done. Even when their condition was as a result of their own bad choices, He healed them. 

The other point we need to see is the use of the Greek word therapeuo. It is translated here as "was healing", not healed. It implies an ongoing action rather than a past deed that is already completed. Healing is often a process, isn't it?  This particular day in Capernaum, Jesus completely healed the demon-possessed man and Peter's mother-in-law. He may have completely healed many of the people in the crowd. For every one of the sick who were brought to Him, however, healing began, and did not stop until it was completely accomplished. 

This verse is filled with hope! Do you see it? Every parent bringing a loved one to Jesus, regardless of the problem, needs this reassurance. Our loved ones are not just a face in a crowd. Jesus sees them individually, responds to them individually, and begins healing individually. It is often a process, but you can be assured that the process has begun. 

Today, pray that our Lord will complete the healing He has begun (in ourselves and our loved ones) and that we will have eyes that recognize the process as it unfolds.