Praise the Lord, O my soul…who heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:2-3)
Vacations are beneficial when they provide for a change of pace. Often a doctor will prescribe a holiday for an overwrought person. Once Jesus, the Good Physician, said to His disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.”
We know that the formula for good physical, mental, and spiritual health calls for more than just rest periods. Dr. George W. Crane, a psychologist and doctor of medicine wrote, “The best medicine as regards physical health and vitality is belief in God and an active part in church work.”
This is a step in the right direction, but it is not the full answer. Even a hypocrite can do church work: serve on committees, collect funds, teach a class.
The true medicine for the soul is the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins. The psalmist calls on his inner self to bless the Lord, “Who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases.”
God forgives our sins because Jesus Christ, in whom we believe, has with His shed blood cleansed us from all sin. This is the good news – “In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
When we have peace with God we have also inner peace, and inner peace makes for the health of the soul.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for forgiving all my sins and healing all my diseases. Amen.
(Taken from “Our Journey with Jesus” (out of print), copyright 1976, International Lutheran Laymen’s League.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 133-135 1 Corinthians 2
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