I remember the time we were having a children’s Bible program in one of the poorer neighborhoods in a large town. It was late in the evening when up walked a young small dog that was not able to walk very well. He had probably been hit by a car and was partially paralyzed in his back legs. It looked like he was trying to find a friend and something to eat. He found both that evening. Seeing that little dog reminded me of something about life.
There can be many hurts and heartaches in this life. Many times we had nothing to do with it just like that little dog had nothing to do with the parents he had or where they lived...also if they had owners that cared for them or if they lived on the streets and out of garbage cans.
The good news is God cares about us and wants to help us. Yes, He is concerned about the physical, but more importantly is our spiritual condition, (Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”; Matthew 4:23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.).
Have we come to God, called upon for help (Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need., James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.), repented of our sin, (Luke 24:45-47 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem., 1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.) and asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, (John 1:12, 13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.)?
I do not totally understand it, but God can even be glorified in sickness and problems, (John 11:4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”). God is there waiting to help us. See you in Church next Sunday.