Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics with Queen Latifah, in the movie “Joyful Noise” singing … Fix Me Jesus … poignantly singing of our need to rely upon and seek the healing grace of Jesus as our Jehovah Rapha - our healer God.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 4:23 [NKJV] … 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
… Jesus showed His followers physical healing to point to their need for spiritual heading which could only come thru Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 4:23-5:12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus was followed by those who sought His physical healing; but He desired that they see their need - thru Him - for emotional/spiritual well-being.
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Reference Passage : … John 15:4-5 [NKJV] … 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. … 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … “
… Jesus teaches that we can only be fruitful in life IF we abide in Him.
Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NKJV] … 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
… Paul learned, as should we, that our spiritual well-being and our strength ONLY comes from His grace.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, uses the story of a real physician who seeks more than just physical healing in seeking after the emotional well-being of his patients. The ODB author wrote: When Dr. Rishi Manchanda asks his patients [see photo], “Where do you live?” he’s looking for more than an address. He has seen a pattern. Those who come to him for help often live in conditions of environmental stress. Molds, pests, and toxins are making them sick. So Dr. Manchanda has become an advocate of what he calls Upstream Doctors. These are health care workers who, while providing urgent medical care, are working with patients and communities to get to the source of better health.
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He showed the people His power, as the God-Man, over disease and despair by healing many who followed Him (see highlight passage). But in that passage one also reads how He preached that His true disciples would also find spiritual healing - and well-being - in and thru Him.
This, of course, raises the self-diagnostic question as to whether we need what Queen Latifah sings about in the linked song … that we go to Jesus - maybe today - seeking His healing … possibly physical, … but most certainly emotional and/or spiritual as well.
Personally, I could use a lot of all of that! … How about you?
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your healing grace, given so freely.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to connect more closely with You and abide in Your healing grace. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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