Tag: sick need physician
Healing the Brokenhearted
Scripture reading for September 24: Psalm 147:2-6 “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars; He gives all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground.”
Matthew 9:11-12 “And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
As we conclude the healing verses from Psalms, we come to Psalm 147. This psalm boasts of God’s plan to build up Jerusalem, the city of the Great King. God would build it up by gathering the outcasts of Israel and healing the brokenhearted and downcast. As God has amazing power over the universe, the psalmist declares God’s ability to determine the exact number of stars and call each one by name. In fact, the understanding of God is beyond man’s capacity to measure or understand. But this amazing and powerful God lifts up those who humbly acknowledge their weakness and need. He also will judge the wicked who refuse to come to Him for healing.
This passage reminds us of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Who came to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel. He went to Jerusalem to declare God’s healing grace and preach the Good News. He declared that those who were well did not need a physician, but the sick did. He called sinners, not the righteous. His message went initially to the Israel, but was to be taken to the whole world. As He knows the stars and calls them by name, so God knows the Names of those who are His and records them in His Book of Life!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds. Thank You for coming for the humble, the hurting and the wounded. You give us new life eternal and new names as members of Your eternal family! Use me to help build up the New Jerusalem. Amen!
A sinner healed!
Scripture reading for February 11th: Mark 2, Psalm 30, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Mark 2:15-17 “And as he (Luke) reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Jesus called Levi, also known as Matthew, to follow Him and become a disciple. Levi responded quickly and hosted Jesus at his home, inviting many other friends to meet Jesus. This angered the religious folks, who had judged those attending as “sinners.” Jesus gently set them straight by explaining His mission; He was here to call sinners to repentance. This required humility to recognize that everyone is a sinner in need of the Great Physician.
Faith’s confession: I am thankful that Jesus came to save me, a sinner, in need of healing. I am blessed to join other “sinners” at the table with Jesus Christ, my Lord, Who has restored my life and healed me.
Psalm 30:2-3 “O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.”
Doctors are for the sick! (Savior’s are for sinners!)
Scripture reading for February 11th: Mark 2
Everywhere Jesus went, people were either amazed at His teaching and miracles or provoked by how unorthodox His methods and timing were. Religious leaders had the most difficult time when Jesus broke their customs and violated tradition. Common people felt welcomed and loved by Jesus and opened their hearts to Him. Those who encountered Jesus must decide where they stood for His teaching and miracles brought conviction!
“”As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him.” (Mark 2:14-15) This action of Jesus brought the Pharisees into a conflict with Jesus and His disciples. They were upset that Jesus was hanging around with known “sinners”. This would have been unthinkable to them. These people were “unclean” and would have contaminated them.
Jesus responded with a classic statement: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 1:18) Jesus’ mission was to reach lost people. In reality, all are lost! (Romans 3:23) But often religious people are self-righteous! They judge their righteousness by the rules they keep and by others lack of keeping their traditions. We must know we are sick to choose a doctor to help us! We must recognize we are sinners to go to The Savior! Check your heart today! If you are judging yourself by religious rules or traditions, rather than by your relationship with Jesus, the Savior, repent and get it right!