Sickness

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2 Kings 20:1 Are You Ready To Die?

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2 Kings 20:1

For most people they do not want to think about the concept of death. Thinking about death brings about fear for many because they do not know what to expect. Very few people are ready to die and would be very terrified if they knew exactly when they would be dying. They live only in the moment.

King Hezekiah had become ill and was near death. Isaiah told him that God said he would die, so he must get his house put in order.

All over the world there are people who have sickness that are leading to death. They have received the report from the doctor that they are going to die and there is nothing more than can be done to stop it.

At the moment they receive this information, many will begin to get their things in order to be ready to die. Focus is often placed upon getting a will put in place and saying final goodbyes to family and friends. Some will turn to God during this time and strive to get right with God.

Doing all of this works for those that have advance notice of death. However, there are also many people who leave in the morning and die that day due to a sudden accident or health problem. They have no notice and no extra time to prepare for death.

Believers must be ready at all times for death. Life must be lived believing in the work of Jesus and repenting of all sin, striving to live a life of holiness in the righteousness of Jesus.

You may have some sickness that is revealing you may die soon, or you may not. Either way there is coming a day in which you will die.

Instead of going through life as though you may never die, live for God. Keep your house in order that you are ready to die and be with God for eternity.

Jesus has provided the way to have eternal life, but you must accept it and live in it. Do not allow your house to be messy and unprepared for death.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be ready to die and meet with God; that you will live life following God’s ways; that God will strengthen you to turn from sin and live for Him; and that you will face death with a joy of getting to be with God for eternity.

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John 11:4 All For God’s Glory

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4

Sickness is something that no one likes in themselves or in anyone else. It is also something that people question as to why they are sick or how they got sick.

The more sick a person is, the scarier it is for most people. All they can see is the problems that the sickness brings on. In the eyes of most people, there is nothing good to be found in being sick.

Lazarus, who was a friend of Jesus, had become very sick. Jesus said that his sickness would not end in death, but be for the glory of God.

As people view sickness, all they see is the here and now, they cannot see the future clearly. The mountains of problems and pain is all that is clearly visible.

Although God does not really like sickness, since it came with sin, He does use it. It can be used to slow a person down, get a person to look up to Him, and to bring God glory. God gets glory not only when He heals, but also when He brings a person through it to either healing or to eternity in heaven with Him.

If Lazarus had never had the sickness he would never have died, thus Jesus would never have been able to raise him from the dead. In it God was able to receive glory.

Without any problems or sicknesses, one would not know or understand what it is like to be healed or have a problem solved. In not having been healed or a problem solved, they would also not know or understand what God is able to do.

You or someone you know and love may be going through some sickness. While it is painful to feel or see, you must put your eyes on Jesus and trust Him in the situation.

Do not give the devil a foothold with complaining or fear of the sickness. Allow God to get all the glory in the sickness. Trust Him to either heal or bring you through it by His strength and power.

The ‘worst’ thing that can happen in sickness is death. For the believer, death brings about eternal life, which is far greater than life on this earth.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that God will heal you and your loved ones of all sickness; that God will get glory in any sickness you may get; and that you will trust God in every situation in your life.

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John 11:14-15 A Negative Used For Good

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14-15

No one likes to see bad things occur to someone they love. It is painful to see a loved one suffer or to die.

When a loved one is suffering badly and has a great possibility of dying, most people will do whatever they can to prevent the death and alleviate the suffering. All that can be seen is the pain and suffering and that it must be stopped.

Lazarus had been sick and Jesus chose not to go to him. Later Lazarus dies. Jesus was glad He did not go to Lazarus while he was sick, but now goes to him. Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus and prevent death, but was glad that He did not do that. He had something greater in mind.

Humans can only see the here and now, they cannot see the future or even the bigger picture. God is greater than any thing that can come against a person. He can turn around a situation in a moment, but often does not.

The purpose of allowing suffering is to build a person in his faith. Healing a person is a great miracle, but raising one from the dead is even a greater miracle. One builds the faith some, while the other builds it a lot.

There are times God allows a time of pain and suffering to occur to allow a person to draw closer to Him. Believers are to rely completely upon God and trust His way of doing things. As one does this greater things can occur, the dead is raised to life, rather than just another healing.

As you are going through life, there will be times of pain and suffering. As you cry out to God for mercy, do not allow yourself to think that there is only one way to fix the problem. Put your trust in God, His timing and His ways.

God can do things in a greater way than you can imagine. He will do things in a way that will be for your benefit.

Allow Him to build your faith and trust in Him. Believe that God knows what He is doing and will do it in the best way possible.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know you can trust God’s ways of doing things; that your faith in God will grow; and that you will see greater miracles of God being performed.

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Amos 5:4 Seek God And Live

Seeking on a boat

This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live;” Amos 5:4 

Most people want to live. They appear to do everything that they can to keep from dying. People go to the doctor to get medicine and surgery to cure them of sicknesses and injuries in order to prevent death.

During the time of COVID 19, people are putting on masks and isolating themselves to prevent sickness and death. People fear dying and will do whatever it takes to prevent it, accept for the one thing that will prevent death.

Amos tells the people that God is telling them to seek Him in order to live.

In a world that is dying, many are living in fear of death. Yet, many are turning away from God, refusing to accept that Jesus is the only way to life. God does not want to punish and destroy anyone, yet His holiness demands it. God’s grace has made a way to stop the judgement of death upon every person.

There have been many in the church that have turned their backs upon God and sought life in other ways, the ways of the world. The sinful ways of this world, however, will only bring about chaos, death and destruction. Their ways will only bring about temporary life, a moment of joy that will flee very quickly into depression and death.

All a person must do is seek God and His ways to find life. Jesus died so that everyone else may live. He is willing to give that life away for free, just by believing and following Him.

As the world is seeking ways to live, the believer has the answer and needs to point the way. The church has life, but must be willing to live it and share it with this lost and dying world.

You have access to true life that will never end, an eternal life. It is your choice if you will seek God or you will choose to seek other people and things. One brings eternal, true life, the other brings temporary life, then death.

Focus your life on seeking after God and what He desires for you. In spite of the death and sickness all around you, you will live for eternity. This body of yours is only a temporary dwelling place on this earth. It will not last forever, but your soul will.

Who, or what are you seeking today? Seek God and live.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will seek God and His ways for your life; that you will live your life by God’s standards; that God will strengthen to turn away from the ways of this world; and that you will know life in Jesus. 

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Joel 1:14 Cry Out To God

Cross overlooking a city

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God and cry out to the Lord. Joel 1:14

During times of great disaster, sickness or unrest people are scared. People are dying and many are living in fear, not sure what is going on or what is going to happen next. They do not know when things will change and get back to normal.

Many are looking to the government or other organizations to solve the issues of the day. Those groups are at a loss as to what to do or how to cage things. They compete against each other as to the best route to take, yet, not a whole lot changes.

During the time of Joel, the nation of Israel was being overrun and destroyed. He calls for the people to fast and cry out to God.

When great disasters come upon people, the world really does not know what to do. Sometimes it is the world that is bringing on the problems, raising persecution against all believers.

God often allows disaster to come when the people are refusing to serve Him with all of their heart. The church is not being His witness and people are living in sin. God wants their attention, thus brings on disaster.

As this occurs believers must begin to fast and cry out to God. They need to seek forgiveness for their sins and not doing His will. The believers can turn the eyes of the people back to God and get them on the right track.

God is a God of mercy and forgiveness. He is quick to relent bringing on disaster if His people will call out to Him. The land as a whole must cry out to God and turn from their wicked ways so that He can heal them and the land.

You may be going through a time of disaster or trouble, or you may know of others who are going through it themselves. Start with yourself with crying out to God for His mercy. Then as you cry out to God, call on other believers to do the same.

As God’s people call out to Him, He will show up in His great love and mercy. The land, no matter what nation you are a part of, needs you to be crying out to God for it. Seek God and know His salvation.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will seek God’s forgiveness for your sins and the sins of your land; that you will seek God’s mercy upon all people; and that you will humble yourself and live for God.