Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 The Holistic Healing that Christ gives

James 5:13-18
 
v16Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 
 

The pandemic, wars, political unrest, racism, wildfires, poverty, climate changes… these unprecedented circumstances have wreaked havoc throughout the world, creating a sense of hopelessness and frustration; similar to what Israel faced in the times before Jesus came to this world. For those who understand the scripture, this reiterates our helplessness and God’s sufficiency. 
 
We all are in desperate need of holistic healing; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As followers of Christ, we are at a time when our faith in Jesus and our relationship with Him is put to the test. It is a time for us to recalibrate our souls and to offer prayers in faith.
 
Charles Spurgeon quotes, “We cannot rely on ourselves, for we have learned by bitter experience the folly of self-confidence. We are compelled to look to the Lord alone. Blessed is the wind that drives the ship into the harbor. Blessed is the distress that forces us to rest in our God.” 
 
One of the greatest examples in the scripture on holistic healing is that of apostle Paul. He was a sinner, persecuting the church, and was miraculously transformed on his way to Damascus, and became one of the key apostles to spread God’s word among gentiles. Paul did not stop his journey after he received the healing. By accepting God’s Grace over his weaknesses, he forgot about his past life and aimed forward to attain the ultimate goal of being with Christ. He has set a great example of faithful life and humility through which he glorified God. Suffering through knowing Christ in Paul’s life produced perseverance, which changed his character, which eventually resulted in his hope of the glory of God. Remember, like Paul, healing in each one of us has a bigger purpose, which is God’s glory. The end product of healing should be a transformed life, a faithful life.
 
The key ingredient, as the scripture notes, for healing to occur is faith in Christ. Even Jesus could not do miracles because of people’s lack of faith. In fact, every healing that Jesus did was a derivative of each recipient’s faith. The prayer of a righteous is powerful and effective. Who is righteous? Righteous is the one who lives by faith. So, one’s faith is the key element in the healing process. 
 
For someone who is feeling blessed enough that they are not troubled, don’t wait for trouble times to come to turn to God. It is crucial to repent and pray for transformation and to live a transformed life, a faithful life. 
 
Like Paul, let this be our prayer: to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Let us pray for our own healing and that of the world. Remember, God is the ultimate healer, Jehovah Rapha!

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for Your kind mercy towards us. Thank you, Lord, for carrying us through these challenges and letting your Holy Spirit guide us. Give us understanding and hope. We pray that from these challenges comes something good. Help us to walk with You humbly and faithfully. 
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"He who forgives all your sins and heals all your disease”. Psalm 103:3
 
Dr. Deepu Alex Thomas
Carmel MTC Boston
 
 Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more