There are many careers mentioned in the Bible. A keeper of sheep and a tiller of the ground are among the first, describing Abel and Cain. Shepherd, farmer, carpenter, king, silversmith, potter, tentmaker and physician. We find these, and more, respected fields of endeavor.Luke, the beloved physician, (Colossians 4:14 KJV)
Physicians then were much more limited in their abilities, but their job was to heal, just as it is today. Jesus was very aware of a physician’s calling.
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. (Matthew 9:12 KJV)
The Bible contains no admonition to ignore the advice of a physician. The Bible does, however, encourage us to pray for those who are sick.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:14-16 KJV)
Careful there – I see you reading into this that sins cause sickness. While it is true that some activities considered sinful have physical consequences, it is just as true that physical ailments occur for other reasons. We are creatures of sin. It can be found in the lives of every person taking a breath on this planet, but there are other reasons for things that happen to us.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:2-3 KJV)
The root Hebrew word (Strong’s H7495) translated as physician means to mend properly, to cure, heal, repair thoroughly, to make whole, as the Greek (Strong’s G2390).
We know that the greatest healer is God, able to take the sinful soul and create purity. Nothing else in the vastness of the universe matches the healing power required to move us into eternal life with Him. Yet, we are grateful for the small scale healing that allows us to spend more time here with those we love and we will use the knowledge of our physicians along with prayers looking for that same extension of time granted Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:6), if not a bit more.
Our family is praying for another such extension for a member who loves the Lord, serving Him daily while here and living with the promise of His home. Our church family is praying for another such child of God. I’m praying with other families, too, in similar situations – from children to adults. We pray for their physicians, too, that they will be guided by God’s will. In some instances, I know the doctors are Christian who spend time praying with their patients.
May God bless them and grant their prayers for His guidance. May God bless you as you join with us in praying for their health.
Grammy Blick, my sister needs The Great Physician again. I hope you will remember her when you pray. Thanks
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