LUKE 5:31-32
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
TO PONDER
Sometimes knowing when we need a doctor is obvious. When our youngest son broke his leg a couple of years ago, we knew he needed help. However, the decision to seek medical advice is sometimes a harder call to make.
For example, My dad was a fairly stoic man of stubborn German descent and he would often decide to not see a doctor because in his opinion, all the doctors were going to do were tell him to take Panadol and rest and allow his body to take care of itself. I his opinion, he didn't need to pay someone to tell him what was already apparent to him. (to be fair, my mum was a registered nurse, so he did have access to some free medical advice). And 99% of the time he was right, a few days rest, some cold and flu medication or mild pain relief while things straightened themselves out and he was good to go. That was fine... until it wasn't and the doctors handed him his first cancer diagnosis.
That's the danger of the world we live in today. It offers all sorts of different opinions about diagnosing the problems in our lives. Yet so often those diagnoses address only the symptoms and not the underlying cause. While we are trapped and dying in sin, the world tells us we're fine. While our separation from God, the very source of our life, is slowly erroding our humanity, we are applauding ourselves for no longer needing God.
This is the problem Jesus is addressing with the Pharisees in this passage. They see the sin in the lives of others and can't understand why Jesus would spend time with these broken people, yet all the while they cannot see their own need for a doctor. Jesus is not telling them that they don't need a doctor - but I suspect that's what their arrogant ears probably heard. He's actually saying that he's come to heal anyone who acknowledges their need for healing and forgiveness, and that included the pharisees in their pride and self righteousness.
Don't let the world fool you, we cannot accurately diagnose our own problem. Jesus is the only one who sees things as they really are, his assessment is the only one we can really trust and his diagnoses is, you are sick, but he can heal you if you want him to.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus you are the great physician. I know that I am often blind to the areas of my life where I need your healing and restoration. I know that the world around me often make is easy to excuse attitudes and behaviours that are not in line with your will and your desire for goodness in my life. Please help me to take seriously your offer of healing and forgiveness and to live each day in the reality of being made whole and righteous in you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.