Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 JESUS CHRIST WHO HEALS

Bible portion: James 5: 13-18

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, 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.” James 5:15-16

In today's uncertain times, this is a powerful verse to hold on to. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. For today’s meditation let us look at the prayer over sickness. Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus healing multitudes of people. Two passages I would like to bring to your attention are from Matt 9: 20-22. In v22, Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. The above passage is very familiar to us. The woman was suffering for 12 years. All the doctors gave up on her, there was no cure. She comes in complete faith and touches the edge of Jesus’ cloak in faith. And as we read the passage it is said in Luke 8 in the narration of the same incident, Jesus felt the power go out of Him. 
Are we facing any sickness today? Have we had doctors tell us that there is no cure for this disease? Our God is a miracle working God. Often when we pray, we tend to pray for results we think are possible. For example, if we are suffering from migraine, we would pray, “Jesus, cure the headache for today”/ Because it is unheard of that migraines have been completely cured. Instead we must pray “Jesus heal me completely of this migraine” This is just one example. In each of our lives the examples can be different. Are we different from any physical ailment, any ailment such as depression, anger, jealousy, laziness etc. Very often we do not think of anger, jealousy, or laziness as ailments, but these are all a deviation from what God wanted humans to be and God will completely heal us from these ailments also. Let us go to God as the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Let us ask Him for His miracle, His deliverance from our aliment. Let us go in faith knowing that He is the one who raised the dead. Our God
 does miracles The other passage we look in today is from Luke 5: 17-20.  In v20, When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” This is another passage that is very familiar. Due to the large crowd around Jesus, four friends bring their sick friend lying on a mattress and lower him through the roof so that Jesus could heal him. And when Jesus saw their faith, he healed them. Do we know brothers or sisters in Christ who are suffering? Do we have the faith to bring their case to Christ? Our God tells us through the above passage that if we have faith, then God will heal 
 that friend At the beginning of the new year, let us look at ourselves. Do we have any ailments? Anything within ourselves that is a deviation from what God intended us to be? That is an ailment. Let us take it to God in faith. Do we have a friend or a brother or sister in Christ who has given up? Who are tired of fighting against the aliment and have no hope left. Let us bring their case to Christ in faith as well. Let us remember ‘When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset’. In the same way let us look to support our brothers and sisters in prayer as well. God bless us all. 

              PRAYER                                    
Lord, we bring before you the ongoing struggles that we ourselves or our brothers and sisters are facing. We ask for your enduring strength and grace to sustain them in their journey. Grant them patience and faith as they navigate this difficult path. Open our eyes to see around us those who are suffering and have lost hope. Bring us closer to you in this new year in faith that with you everything is possible. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. 
                  
Thought for the day
“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”—Saint Teresa of Ávila.

 Roshan Mary Varghese, Long Island MTC, NY

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