DAY 8
GOD HEALS YOU
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 30:17
MY FAMILY EXPERIENCED A DIVINE HEALING WHEN MY grandfather—whom we call 2-Papa—was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. His doctor said he had three to six months to live.
That was twenty years ago, and not only is he still a very present man in my life, but he’s logging his ten thousand steps every day.
God can restore our health, and He can heal our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). And yet I find healing baffling because it doesn’t always happen right this minute, the way we want it to. God often heals over time, and other times He doesn’t heal at all this side of heaven.
One summer I swapped DMs with Jane Marczewski, known to the America’s Got Talent audience as Nightbirde. When she auditioned for the show, she told the judges that she’d spent years battling cancer but was excited to sing for them a song she’d written, titled “It’s Okay.” Her performance was so moving that it earned Jane the rare “golden buzzer” from Simon Cowell, which meant she was automatically put through to the competition’s semifinals.
I reached out to tell her how impactful her audition had been and that we all were cheering for her to beat cancer. We texted here and there as she continued to battle cancer and adjust to fame. I was so impressed by her warmth and energy and crazy-strong faith that I just knew God was going to heal her.
But that’s not what He did. Halfway through the season, Jane pulled out of the competition because her cancer had gotten much worse. Six months later, she was gone.
Baffling, right?
There are no easy answers here, so I won’t try to toss one your way. What I will do is remind you that even the greatest heroes of the faith have shaken their heads in disbelief over some of the decisions God made. In Hebrews 11 there’s this amazing rundown of faithful people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah. They are listed in what’s known as the “hall of faith.” And yet in verse 13 of that same chapter, it says, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised.”
Wait. What? These were the best-of-the-best lovers and followers of God, and God chose not to deliver on His promises to them? But then verse 16 says, “But as it is, they [those faithful ones] desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God … has prepared for them a city.”
God also prepared a place for Jane. One that has joy in fullness, love in fullness, and health in fullness. No more sickness.
If you’re waiting for healing in some part of your life—whether it’s physical, relational, financial, job-related, church-related, emotional, or something else entirely—I want to remind you that God has not forgotten you. He holds all healing in His hand. And whether He chooses to heal you here and now, or whether the great things He has in store for you will show up in heaven someday, three things remain totally true: God is still God. God is good. And God has a plan for your life.
How to Put LOVE First
What healing do you need today? Whatever it is, and whether it’s for you or someone you dearly love, let’s go to our Father. Jesus, we lay down ________. We both ask and thank You for Your healing. In Your name, amen.
Put Love First
Love is not first. It is only the vehicle through which we worship and serve God. But unless we know in what way God commands us to worship Him, no amount of love will excuse you from worship God commands and INSTRUCTS us to perform. Unless one is taught how to worship God, then all their motions and acts of love does them no good.
Doctrine is first and foremost. Doctrine.
Love means giving but giving to God and our brethren, unless it is given in knowledge then love fails. God instructs us who to love and how to love. It is not emotional. It is intellectual. I can say I love God but when it comes to worship or service, unless it is done through doctrine as to WHO to love and HOW to love, then one misses the mark. The word for that is sin. Everything in our new-born lives comes with teaching and doctrine. Even love comes with instruction.
It is important that we know doctrine and doctrine is taught in Scripture. You can "love" all you want, but unless it comes with instruction in who to love and how then your love is rejected by God because it is not given in knowledge.
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deut. 6:5.
But love comes with doctrine. Being taught who to love and how to love is the key.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for
reproof, for
correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16–17.
We are commanded to learn Scripture, to learn what it teaches in its final doctrinal form, THEN we can display our love according to knowledge that serves a purpose for love is a verb, it's a word defined as action. But action that God accepts is action given in the knowledge of the Word of God. We don't give love to unbelievers. There is no profit in that. We give love to brethren and to God. Never to the unsaved. We are commanded to not give that which is holy to dogs (unbelievers.) We are commanded to not cast our pearls to swine (unbelievers. The reason is simple if if you have the knowledge. You are responsible to brethren, to give that which is holy to holy people. And as a holy person in Christ I am expecting it. It belongs to me as much as your love for God belongs to Him and to other gods that may be before you. Then that is idolatry. A person who does this is unlearned, uneducated, unknowledgeable and did not learn God's teaching on love. Christianity is 'done' in knowledge. This is why the Proverbs. That with all thy getting to get knowledge for this is the difference between a son or daughter who is taught by the LORD, and one who is ignorant and leans on his or her own understanding. When we are among brethren what are we commanded to do?
To share the Word of God, to talk about God's Word when in the company with brethren.
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deut. 6:7–9.
God commands His people to talk Scripture, to bathe in Scripture, to eat with Scripture, when we lie down and when we rise up Scripture is to be always on our lips, sharing with brethren the Scripture, to post it on the walls of our homes, to dwell on Scripture always, to breathe it, to walk in it and in the process of sharing God's Word we then receive teaching as to how we are to walk, what we say, and how we say it. Scripture, Scripture, Scripture, always, always, always. THAT is more important than love. It is even more highly exalted above His Name.
Pay attention:
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple,
And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:
For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Psalm 138:2.
Worship and praise are given to God in truth, and truth of the Word of God (Doctrine.)
For God has magnified His Word above His Name.
Why?
Because God doesn't want idiots. The Father teaches His kids. And He teaches them all His Word. And with the knowledge we gain and are taught, THEN when we worship and praise Him according to knowledge of His Word, then He is pleased, then He accepts it because it is given in knowledge. And when given in knowledge, then God knows love is there. Because we love His Word even above His Name. Doctrine is first. Not love. Doctrine.
