Acts 10:38 "He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him."
These words are a summary of Jesus' ministry. The four gospels overflow with accounts of those healed by His loving hand. Some were upset that Jesus claimed the authority to forgive sin. But Jesus answered, "Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins... . He said to the paralyzed man, 'Get up, take your mat and go home'" (Luke 5:23-24).
We, too, look for healing for our various aches and pains, for arthritis or cancer, for limbs paralyzed or senses dulled. Often healing is beyond our reach, but not beyond the reach of our Lord who went about "doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil." In our Baptism we received healing: the forgiveness of our disease of sin. With the forgiveness of sin, we are made whole and holy and given the promise of incorruptible resurrection bodies in heaven which will be free of every ailment.
Though physical ills and disabilities may remain for now, we have been healed of oppression from the devil and the fear of death. Thank God, our Great Physician has healed us!
PRAYER: O Lord, thank You for forgiving all our sins and remind us that You love us and will work all things for our good. Take away the gloom of sadness and worry that we often feel, and heal us of our diseases according to Your will. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 1-3 Matthew 24:1-28
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"