The Best Physician! (and others)

The Best Physician (and others)

Christ is the cheapest Physician. Sickness is not only a consumption to the body - but the purse! (Luke 8:43). Other patients enrich their physicians - but here the Physician enriches the patient! Physicians charge fees - but Jesus Christ gives us our cures freely.  "Come without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1). He desires us to bring nothing to Him but broken hearts. And when He has cured us, He desires us to bestow nothing upon Him but our love - and one would think that was very reasonable.

Christ is the most skillful Physician. There is no disease too hard for Him. "Who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:3). He can cure the gangrene of sin - even when it comes to the heart. He can melt a heart of stone - and wash away black sins in His crimson blood! There are no desperate cases with Christ. He has those salves, oils, and balsams which can cure the worst diseases. Christ never fails of success.

Christ is the most tender-hearted Physician. "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). Every groan of the patient goes to the heart of this Physician!

Christ cures only only our diseases - but our deformities! Christ not only gives health - but beauty. Sin has made ugly and misshapen. Christ's medicines not only take away our sickness - but our blemishes. He not only makes us whole - but lovely. Christ not only heals - but adorns.

Christ heals with more ease than any other. Other physicians apply pills, potions, or remedies. Christ makes the devil go out with a word (Mark 9:25). So when the soul is spiritually possessed, Christ can heal with a word - nay, He can cure with a look. When Peter had fallen into a relapse, Christ looked on Peter - and he wept. Christ's look melted Peter into repentance - it was a healing look. If Christ does but cast a look upon the soul - He can heal it.

Other physicians can only cure those who are sick - but Christ cures those who are dead, "And you has He made alive - who were dead" (Ephesians 2:1). Christ is a physician for the dead! Of every one whom Christ cures, it may be said, "He was dead - and is now alive!" (Luke 15:32).

Christ elevates all His patients. He not only cures them - but crowns them! (Revelation 2:10). Christ does not only raise them from the sick-bed - but to the throne! He gives the sick man not only health - but also Heaven!

Oh, the love of this heavenly Physician! Christ Himself drank that bitter cup which we should have drunk, and by His taking the bitter potion - we are healed and saved! Thus Christ has shown more move than any physician ever did to the patient.

~Thomas Watson~

(The End)
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What Does Our Church Need?

"Our gospel came to you not simply with words - but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction" (1 Thess. 1:5).

"We have," said one pastor, "the gospel regularly preached, the prayer meeting are continued, the church is at peace - but very few souls are converted to God! What does our church need?"

It needs the presence and power  of the Holy Spirit! For unless the Holy Spirit works - your minister may preach, your church may meet - but no real good will be done! God's work is carried on, not by might nor by power - but by the Spirit of the Lord Almighty. It is the Spirit who must open the heart, quicken the soul, and sanctify the person!

And if the Spirit works - then the feeblest ministry is efficient, and the smallest church prospers!

All the success that followed the preaching of Peter, and the labors of Paul - was from the Holy Spirit. Therefore Paul says, "God gave the increase". Then the church felt her need of the Spirit; she realized her dependence on that Divine Agent; she prayer with faith, fervor, and importunity for the blessing; and God answered her prayers, and filled His servants with the Holy Spirit and power!

But today, we merely talk of the Spirit - rather than feel our need! We boast of our instruments - rather than realize our dependence on the Almighty Agent!

~James Smith~