December 12, 2007
Back in my pre-Christian days, I used to believe that only really needy people were "religious". They used their religion, whatever it happened to be, as a crutch to get by.
Who are "needy" people? Are they weak people who can’t cope with life? That is what I thought before. Now I know that everyone from street people to wildly successful entrepreneurs have needs. We ALL need love, forgiveness and hope. The only true place to get these things is through Jesus.
What about "religion" being a crutch? I’ve learned it’s more than a crutch; it’s not something to just lean on when we are feeling weak. Christ is the great healer. Christianity is more than a crutch it is the whole hospital.
It is the maternity ward for those being born as Christians. It is the ER for those who come with desperate immediate and painful need. It is the palliative care ward giving comfort for the dying. It is there to fill the need of every person in every circumstance of his or her life.
It is there to get us healed and delivered so we in turn can bring others to be helped. Our failure as the church is when we remain crippled and enable people to remain the same and do not challenge and confront them to bear fruits worthy of repentance.
Faith in Jesus is for needy people (that’s all of us) and it is the entire hospital not just a crutch.
Today is the day to throw away your crutch and take up your bed and walk!
God is the great healer, let Him do what He does best!
An operation is not a painless process but in the recovery there is new life.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 NIV
Until next time, acknowledge your need and let the Great Physician heal you.
God Bless All of You...
Darrel Mason