My sister (I hope she doesn’t kill me for telling you this) hasn’t been to a doctor in probably over ten years. She doesn’t have a moral objection to doctors. She has good insurance. She doesn’t live in a third world country with no access to quality care. Yet, despite my parents hounding her, me hounding her, and her boyfriend hounding her, she has remained steadfast in her refusal to make an appointment for a check up. She just hates going to the doctor.
Honestly, most of us don’t like going to the doctor. Even if we are sick, there is a whole laundry list of reasons that we give as to why we won‘t go: It costs too much. I’m fine. It hurts. It’s been so long and now I’m embarrassed to tell the doctor what all is wrong with me. I’d rather not know what’s wrong. Or maybe it’s even just that I don’t have time. We are full of excuses.
So we sit and hold firm to our poorly thought out reasoning and the illnesses that we suffer from slowly but steadily progress and get worse until eventually, we are faced with two choices. We can either swallow our pride and go get medical attention or we can suffer the painful consequences of allowing disease to take over.
So we end up with high blood pressure, infections that have spread beyond where they started, an increase in our aches and pains, and sometimes things more serious like cancer or heart disease.
I know you see where I’m going with this.
Don’t we do the same thing with Jesus? It costs too much (I don’t want to give up my current way of life). I’m fine (I am a good person, that’s all that matters). It hurts (sometimes God has to put us through unpleasant things in order to make us better and I don’t want that). It’s been so long and now I’m embarrassed (I’ve done so much that is wrong that there is no way I could be forgiven). I’d rather not know what’s wrong (if I pretend like things are fine, then things are fine). I don’t have the time (I’d like to someday learn more about Jesus, I’m just not ready yet).
We are a sick people. We hurt. We are weak. We are broken. Sin is a disease that, if left unchecked, can ruin us and leave us with things worse than high blood pressure...it can leave us with broken homes, broken hearts, addictions that can’t be broken, and worst of all it leaves us separated from God.
So we sit and hold firm to our poorly thought out reasoning and the effects of sin that we suffer from slowly but steadily progress and get worse until eventually we are faced with two choices. We can either swallow our pride and go see The Great Physician or we can suffer the painful consequences of allowing sin to take over.
But what a relief it is when you make the decision to go to the doctor and the treatment starts to kick in! Your head clears, the pain starts to subside, your energy comes back, and before you know it, you feel good again.
Same with Jesus. If you follow his instructions, what a great feeling once his blessings start to show themselves in your life. Your burdens are lifted. You have a newfound sense of freedom. You obtain a joy that can’t be shaken no matter what you face. It’s a feeling so great that it almost feels physical.
My sister finally made an appointment to see a new doctor for later this month. She’s gathering her list of things she’s stored up to talk to him about.
If you’re sick, don’t be so stubborn. You can't get better if you don't go see the Doctor.
“When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.’ Then he added, ‘Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” Mt. 9:12-13
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:17
Honestly, most of us don’t like going to the doctor. Even if we are sick, there is a whole laundry list of reasons that we give as to why we won‘t go: It costs too much. I’m fine. It hurts. It’s been so long and now I’m embarrassed to tell the doctor what all is wrong with me. I’d rather not know what’s wrong. Or maybe it’s even just that I don’t have time. We are full of excuses.
So we sit and hold firm to our poorly thought out reasoning and the illnesses that we suffer from slowly but steadily progress and get worse until eventually, we are faced with two choices. We can either swallow our pride and go get medical attention or we can suffer the painful consequences of allowing disease to take over.
So we end up with high blood pressure, infections that have spread beyond where they started, an increase in our aches and pains, and sometimes things more serious like cancer or heart disease.
I know you see where I’m going with this.
Don’t we do the same thing with Jesus? It costs too much (I don’t want to give up my current way of life). I’m fine (I am a good person, that’s all that matters). It hurts (sometimes God has to put us through unpleasant things in order to make us better and I don’t want that). It’s been so long and now I’m embarrassed (I’ve done so much that is wrong that there is no way I could be forgiven). I’d rather not know what’s wrong (if I pretend like things are fine, then things are fine). I don’t have the time (I’d like to someday learn more about Jesus, I’m just not ready yet).
We are a sick people. We hurt. We are weak. We are broken. Sin is a disease that, if left unchecked, can ruin us and leave us with things worse than high blood pressure...it can leave us with broken homes, broken hearts, addictions that can’t be broken, and worst of all it leaves us separated from God.
So we sit and hold firm to our poorly thought out reasoning and the effects of sin that we suffer from slowly but steadily progress and get worse until eventually we are faced with two choices. We can either swallow our pride and go see The Great Physician or we can suffer the painful consequences of allowing sin to take over.
But what a relief it is when you make the decision to go to the doctor and the treatment starts to kick in! Your head clears, the pain starts to subside, your energy comes back, and before you know it, you feel good again.
Same with Jesus. If you follow his instructions, what a great feeling once his blessings start to show themselves in your life. Your burdens are lifted. You have a newfound sense of freedom. You obtain a joy that can’t be shaken no matter what you face. It’s a feeling so great that it almost feels physical.
My sister finally made an appointment to see a new doctor for later this month. She’s gathering her list of things she’s stored up to talk to him about.
If you’re sick, don’t be so stubborn. You can't get better if you don't go see the Doctor.
“When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.’ Then he added, ‘Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” Mt. 9:12-13
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:17
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