Have you ever wanted to be a doctor or a nurse? Wanted to wipe away a tear and make the pain go away with a kiss? Well, now you can, without even going to medical school! How? By being a spiritual doctor and taking up the Great Commission of the Doctor in Chief, Jesus Christ.
Jesus' specific order to us is: "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, WEB)
First, let us study the experience our head Doctor had with his patients, so we can learn from the example he has set for us.
Throughout Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, he surrounded himself with the spiritually sickly, going to their houses and dining with them. His relationship with the sick brought words of distaste from the self-righteous, who thought they were in top shape when, in fact, they were spiritually dead. In reply to their scoff, Jesus said, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17)
Jesus was commissioned by God to preach repentance so those who were spiritually ill could receive the gift of salvation through Christ. Those who had not repented of their unhealthy ways were then revived through his teaching and care.
Through his talk and walk, Jesus set an example to all his apprenticed doctors: that we, as Christians, should go where the sick are, in order to heal them. Instead of avoiding the sickly, we must embrace them and teach them what Jesus taught us.
However, many Christians have not taken up Jesus' Great Commission. We have avoided the sick rather than going to them. We have hated the ill instead of lovingly rebuking them and bringing them back to God.
Jesus relationship with the ill teaches us another important principle: he personally cared for the sick by setting good examples for his patients to follow, while not catching their illnesses himself. Therefore, our responsibility as Christians is to heal the sick using God's treatments, not to catch their disease. If you help a thief, you don't help him to steal, nor become a thief yourself. Instead, you would help him stop stealing.
If we see a friend falling into distress, taking a route opposite of God's path, we must speedily go after him to bring him back onto the right road. Why speedily? Because we all know that when a fever gets too high, when you experience trouble breathing, medical emergency must be sought; otherwise, it might be too late.
So speedily, we must help our friend. We do this by identifying their wrong action, rebuking them for their decision, and correcting them using God's Word.
No one enjoys taking medicine. But when the bitter tastes in your mouth subsides and is soon replaced with soothing effects in your body, you will forget about the past pain and rejoice in your new health. Your patients may struggle with you; they may turn their mouth from the spoonful of medicine in your hand. But do not let their initial refusal discourage you. Instead, encourage them in accepting God's medicine, and remind them of the positive outcome. Ask them, "Do you want to remain sick or be healthy?"
Most will tell you, "I want to be healthy!" Then have them accept your spoonful of medicine. Soon, both of you will share the joy of a renewed health.
However, if your patient refuses to listen to your counsel, no matter how many times you tried, move on to your next patient. Jesus told us to do so. Moving on allows us to care for a friend who will benefit from our care. We have little time to waste, for Jesus will soon come, to reward the doctors who treated his patients--for we are just stewards of his patients--and to take up the patients under his care to time indefinite.
But moving on does not mean abandoning those who refused our care. We should stand by and be on call at all times. If they call out to us, we should go straight to their side, and help them with what they need. A doctor shouldn't refuse to treat a patient just because they had refused treatment before. We should be available to make house calls 24/7, not just working from nine to five on business days.
How do we care for the sick? To properly care for the ill, we first need to read God's manual on good health, and that is the Bible, the book God wrote to help us maintain good health. And in order to care for others, we must care for our own selves first. Unhealthy doctors won't have the strength to properly care for their patients, don't you agree?
The Bible is filled with medicinal wisdom, and provides cures for all types of diseases. The below are just some of its instructions to staying fit, as well as warnings of poisons to avoid.
The two magical ingredients to any cure are:
1) Love Yahweh God Almighty
2) Love others as you love yourself
Our head Doctor Jesus Christ said this about these two ingredients: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
Therefore, all remedies are based on these two ingredients, which will fix any and all known diseases, including "adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies," and the like (Galatians 5:19-21)
Yahweh God, who is the Boss and Supervisor of our head Doctor, leaves us some words to live by, so it is definitely wise to heed His words. Here is what He told us: "I am Yahweh your God... You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol...you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them... You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." (Exodus 20:2-5, 7)
Our Heavenly Father, who is the Parent of all parents, instructs us to: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12)
"You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13)
"You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
"You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15)
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife...nor anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17)
Absolutely, we will be very spiritually healthy when we obey the Boss!
Here are a few words from our fellow doctors, who had been faithful unto their deaths, to help us stay fit:
From apostle Paul: "Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith." (Galatians 6:7-10)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
From apostle Peter: "...in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-11)
Warnings of things that will make us unhealthy and that will ultimately lead us to death:
From apostle Paul: "Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. Flee sexual immorality! Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18)
From Yahweh Himself: "The cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
The second death is eternal destruction. Those doctors who do not watch over their patients, but instead let them die, will be met with their own deaths for eternity.
To all the faithful doctors who treat their patients with tender love and care, this is what Yahweh promises: "I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son." (Revelation 21:6-7)
All faithful doctors will inherit the Kingdom of God, where love, peace, and happiness will reign for all eternity.
The tabernacle of God will be with men, and He "will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
You've always wanted to be a doctor, haven't you? Now, this is your chance to show your love, care, and concern to others! And this is the best doctor position you'll ever be in, for the fruit of your love will last forever, not merely until retirement!
Remember Jesus' specific order to us: "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
So Go! We have instructions from the Bible to guide us all the way, and our head Doctor will always lead us.
Start caring now...start with your family, friends, and your next-door neighbor! Remember, if anyone wanders from the truth, and you lead that person back, know that "he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: Isn't God cruel for condemning anyone who doesn't accept Jesus Christ alone for eternal life?
Answer: If we think that God is cruel for not saving those who reject Jesus Christ, then we have not yet grasped the seriousness of human sin, nor the absolute grace of God. Let's imagine this scene:
A boat is sinking in the middle of a stormy ocean, and everyone on board is drowning. Then another boat comes to the scene to rescue them. Anyone who gets on the rescue boat will be saved; anyone who refuses to get on the boat will be lost.
Every person on Earth is drowning because every person is a sinner (spiritually ill and dying). The penalty of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). But God, in His pure grace, offers everyone a way out of their doom. Anyone who accepts Jesus Christ will be saved; those who reject Jesus will be lost. Jesus is the rescue boat that will save anyone from drowning only if they accept him. This is the only way out of the stormy sea. So everyone's fate depends on their decision: to accept the boat or refuse it.
God sends out the rescue boat. He offers the only way out. This is pure, undeserved grace. Would it be right to blame God when people reject His rescue boat? Surely, a drowning person in an actual sea who refuses to get on a lifeboat cannot blame anyone for not providing a way out! It's either the lifeboat or death.
The problem is that many of us do not know we're drowning. Some who do know we're drowning are seeking to be saved in lifeboats with holes (in false gods and falsehoods). Jesus is the only sturdy and trustworthy lifeboat that can save absolutely anyone.
But the major problem is that many of us feel that God actually owes us, that it's up to Him to patch up our sinking boat, and we don't have to respond to Him in obedience and reverence, as though God's here to serve us, rather than the other way around. But the truths are that 1) no one deserves salvation, and some are saved only because of God's undeserved grace; and 2) that God does not owe us anything.
Yahweh is the Creator of all and the Life-Giver of all. If He wills, He can destroy the entire universe in a split second, and absolutely no one has the right to protest a single word! He gave us life as He willed, and He can take our lives away anytime if He chooses. How could we, the created, dare question Him and criticize Him? Yahweh does NOT owe us anything. Conversely, we owe Him everything! So if we reject the only trustworthy lifeboat (Jesus) God offers, then it's our problem, not God's.
Is a God who offered up His only beloved Son to save undeserved sinners cruel? Would you give up your beloved children to save murderers, rapists, and those of your worst enemies?
~*~A Biblical Wisdom Nugget~*~
"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Teaching his disciples how to pray to God, God's beloved Son, Jesus Christ, began the model prayer with, "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (Matthew 6:9, ASV)
When we pray "Hallowed be thy name," we are seeking sanctification and glory for God's name.
Putting this at the start of his model prayer, Jesus indicated that our first priority in life should be glorifying God's name.
But in order to glorify God's name, we first need to know what it is. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) tells us God's personal name nearly seven thousand times. His holy name is Yahweh, from YHWH, which means "He Chooses to Become" or "He Who Causes to Be." What a perfect name for this Awesome Creator! Truly, no other could rightfully own this name.
Now that we know God's name, we must keep it strictly holy and sacred. In Exodus 20:7, Yahweh tells us: "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain."
We take Yahweh's name in vain when we use His name or "God" in meaningless ways, such as saying, "God bless you" when people sneeze, exclaiming "Oh, my God!" as an interjection, and cursing, "God d*** it." We also take His name in vain when 1) we do something bad and say God told us to do it, 2) blame Him for our problems, 3) do anything sinful in His name, 4) joke about Him, His name, His nature, and His plans and purposes; and 5) when we do not honor Him for who He is.
Therefore, God's name means more than simply a label. His name signifies His nature, His essence, His complete and absolute glory.
Hence, when we sanctify God's name, we are sanctifying more than a name--we are sanctifying Yahweh Himself.
But how do we glorify God? Is saying, "Oh, God, let your name be sanctified" all we need to do? No, that is not enough.
Before we can discover the ways we should glorify Yahweh, let us define "glorify" first. "Glorify" means to praise, honor, exalt, extol, and to show respect. To glorify God is to show our highest devotion to Him, to hold Him in the highest place in our hearts. It is worshipping our very Life-Giver. In essence, glorifying Yahweh is loving Yahweh; it all boils down to true love.
As you can imagine, we have countless ways to glorify Yahweh. Paul, one of the greatest apostles of Jesus Christ, said, "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Well, how does yours truly personally glorify Yahweh? When I'm able to recognize all of the blessings Yahweh has graciously bestowed upon me, I glorify Him. When I put all my dreams, hope, and faith in Him, I glorify Him. When I learn about Him, I glorify Him. When I spread His Word, I glorify Him. Simply put, all my works are to glorify God, just as all of Jesus Christ's works are to glorify God. But I don't do all this on my own--Yahweh helps me with everything.
How about you? How do you personally glorify Yahweh?
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
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Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
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