Its that season again! During cold and flu season the bugs are out and about, have they caught up with you? I visit several communities and schools through the week and it is the same story in most of them – lots of students and staff are sick. There always seems to be some sort of cold or virus making the rounds in the community, so what determines whether you get sick or not? Does any amount of hand washing, non hand shaking, or hospital mask wearing keep us from getting sick? Not always. Even within some families, not everyone comes down with whatever is going through a household. And when you do get sick, how do you treat it, and what can you do to get over it quickly? Does prayer help?
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3
When Jesus was preaching the good news of salvation, he often healed all kinds of sickness. But even more profound, he also forgave sins, which was an even greater need than their physical healing. Why would he forgive sins when all they asked for was physical healing? Because He knows what we need better than we do? Or maybe sin is the greatest sickness and need for healing that each of us has, regardless of our physical well-being. We live in a fallen world and there will always be sickness, disease and death that come to the righteous and the unrighteous. Yet God provides a way to overcome each of these through our faith in Christ.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
So, if you do fall ill or catch the flu over the next few months, do what works best to get over it quickly. And while we are taught to share, this is something that is best kept to ourselves. Be kind and avoid going out in public if you can, or cover your cough and keep from touching much if you do. Doing what you can to keep someone from getting sick is definitely an act of love. And when your loved ones do fall ill, do what you can to comfort them and help in recovery. Pray for healing as well. Remember that sharing the good news of salvation in Christ is the best remedy for everyone, regardless of our afflictions. There are many ways to treat our illnesses, but the only remedy for our sin is through Christ.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2:24
Abundance in Christ,
Clark
