ListenDaily - 28 January 2009; Why or why not? More on healing...
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given through the Spirit ...to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12: 7-9b(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Gifts of healing..."
Volumes have been written on healing, and I do not suppose to add much more here. But please remember:
Healing is real.
Some people have the gift of healing.
The Scriptures instruct us to seek it.
This healing subject is not a simple one. Although our focus is on gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of healing, I feel like we have to discuss the apparent random nature of God's provision of healing...accent on 'apparent'. As stated yesterday, like most of you, I have prayed for someone's healing and never saw it take place. I have also seen miraculous healing of maladies and injuries large and small.
But friends, God is anything but random. Our issue is our inability to see things from His perspective. From our, small, earthly view, having someone healed would always be the best thing. But we have to trust that God is God, and we are but children. How often does an earthly parent have to deny a child something that he really (or "really, really, really") wants, because it is not in the child's best interest. It might be too much candy, touching the stove, or playing in the street. A child may not see the difference between chasing a ball across the backyard and chasing it across a busy highway, but a loving, protective parent knows better.
We have to trust that, as smart as we think we are, we may not understand God's perspective, which is always pointed toward our best interest, our safety, and our eternity. We may not see the difference between one healing and another, but a loving, protective Father knows best.
I admit, freely, that while trying to learn and understand, I still am far off from understanding the mind of God.
But consider the ministry of Joni Eareckso Tada. (http://www.joniandfriends.org/)
Consider that illness brings believers into hospitals where they can be ministers and witnesses.
Consider that if believers were healed of everything, and never died, they would never enter Glory.
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Questions:
1. Do you accept, reject, or feel unsure about healing?
2. Do the leaders of your church follow the commandment to pray and anoint for healing?
3. Why do we not see more healing?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
As our Lord asked the sick man whether he wished to be healed, so, without our consent,
He will not save us; and sinners are without excuse for not consenting to the will of the Lord and their own salvation."
Cardinal Bonaventura
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