
So for the past thirty years I’ve taken a pill – one pill. Other than a few temporary prescriptions for bronchitis or that one bout with Lyme disease, I have not needed medicine.
With cancer – that’s all changed. Now I have enough pills and lotions and powders to stock an entire pharmacy myself … or at least it seems that way. In fact, the pharmacist knows me by name.Every time I go to the doctor or for treatment, it seems as if I come out with one or two more prescriptions. Yesterday I realized I was given two exact opposite instructions … which one to follow … which one to follow.
We are given medicine to cure our physical aches and pains. They don’t always work, but often they do.
And I got to thinking – what if we had pills to help our spiritual problems or shortcomings.
We lose our temper … we get a little white pill to help us along.
We sneak supplies home from the office … we take the yellow pill to make us honest.
We get impatient with our kids … we mix that powder up with some water.
We give in to our addiction … we rub on that lotion.
We give in to an immoral lifestyle … we take the blue pill every morning and every night.
Of course, we don’t have pills for spiritual problems – but we do have cures – God’s Word. Listening to what our Heavenly Father says to us works better than any pill, powder or lotion.
We lose our temper – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26)
We sneak supplies – Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
We get impatient with our kids – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
We give in to addiction – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (i Corinthians 10:13-14)
We give in to an immoral lifestyle – Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (i Corinthians 6:18)
But wait – God gives us another healing verse: A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
Our attitude can make a big difference. Do we desire to walk with the Lord, to live joyfully, to choose the right choices.
Our joyful heart is a good medicine, a medicine that can truly cure.
(Now, excuse me. I have to go pick up a prescription.)