Matthew 9:12-13 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

It’s interesting that Jesus quoted the same thought that Zechariah did, in our reading from just two days ago! However, Jesus put it in the context of disease – and sin is indeed a terrible disease. Countless people have thought they were too far gone for God to be interested in them, that “the church roof will fall in if I walk in.” However, Jesus explicitly contradicted that lie of the devil. As someone has said, the people who have committed the unforgivable sin aren’t worried about it! If you feel remorse, if you know you are a sinner, then you are in the perfect condition for Christ to save you. Going to the medical analogy, countless people die prematurely because they fail to go to the doctor soon enough, thinking they are fine until it’s too late. Awareness of sin, though uncomfortable, is much like physical pain. We don’t like it, but it is a signal that something is wrong, and needs to be corrected. At the same time, there is such a thing as a spiritual hypochondriac. Any time the Holy Spirit makes us aware we have sinned, we need to acknowledge it to God and ask for His forgive­ness and cleansing. (1 John 1:9) However, we aren’t to be constantly picking at ourselves, so to speak, trying to find new things to confess. We need to be like Paul, who famously said, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4) We aren’t to carry a load of guilt, but at the same time we are to humbly accept correction, however the Lord provides it. God wants His children to be healthy, first of all spiritually. Physical disease is inconsequential in comparison.

Physically, I have enjoyed generally good health for most of my life. However, sometimes I think my wife has taken my share for me, with back and brain surgeries and Parkinson’s Disease. I am very aware that does NOT mean she’s more sinful than I am! I want to live as Paul did, with a clear conscience but with constant awareness that it is all by the grace of God. Without Christ, I’m as lost as anyone! I have the privilege of sharing the good news of salvation with others, and I must be careful not to come across as “holier-than-thou.” As someone has said, evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. At this point in my life I am viewed as something of a “holy man.” I am indeed to be holy, just as God said, (1 Peter 1:15) but that must be with an acute awareness of the grace of God. I am also not to be “so heavenly minded as to be no earthly good.” I’m good friends with the Physician, and I am to rejoice to introduce others to Him as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray that in every one of my interactions today I may accurately represent Christ, so that others too may be drawn to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!