His Mercies Never FailSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: When you pray for others, their diseases may vanish at once. But when you have diseases persisting for very long in your own body, you may not be able to get healed by your faith alone. Seek God's grace. "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you; The sure mercies of David." (Isaiah 55:3)
At Tirupattur in Tamil Nadu there is a Christian Ashram (missionaray group). The headman of that Ashram, Brother Victor, came to know that the inhabitants of the two neighbouring hills - the Jawathi Hills and Yellagiri Hills - had been affected by several deadly diseases. He thought how best the Ashram could help them. He himself bought some medical books and studied them. Finally, he bought Penicillin and Streptomycin and injected them in the bodies of the sick. They were all cured immediately. As no such drugs had been ever administered to those hill tribes, they had immediate effect and the sick were cured. So also, the grace which God gives us is surely effective in our lives.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
My dear friend, God's grace prevents us from sinking again into sin. The Bible says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). When God's grace is upon us, it helps us to labour for Him in righteousness, day and night (1 Corinthians 15:10). When we are sick unto death, God's grace saves our lives (Philippians 2:27).
Apostle Paul's co-worker, Epaphroditus, while he laboured for Christ, took ill and came close to death. But God had mercy on him, and Paul writes, "For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" (Philippians 2:27). God had done mighty miracles through Paul. Even his handkerchiefs and aprons healed the sick. They carried in them the healing power of Christ (Acts 14:3; 19:11,12). But when his own fellow worker took ill, he did not dare to heal him with his faith. He rather trusted in God's grace. It was God's grace that healed him finally.
My dear friend, when you pray for others, their diseases may vanish at once. But when you have diseases persisting for very long in your own body, do not bewail, "Lord, why this disease for me?" Rather, plead with Him, "Lord, I humble myself. Grant me Your grace and cure this disease in me. Not because of my faith, but trusting in Your grace, I pray". God's grace alone is our health and the triumph of our life. So let us seek the grace of God.
Prayer:
Precious Heavenly Father,
I humble myself to the dust and I strongly believe that there is nothing impossible for You because You are the wonder-working God. I come to Your feet with my sicknessess, with all my pain and I plead You to heal me right now. I do not ask this only with my own faith but Father, I believe in Your grace that alone can cure me from my diseases. Father, please give me a total relief from my sickness at this very moment and make me stand as a living testimony for You. In Jesus's name, I pray.
Amen. |