Day 177
I want to return to the subject of faith for physical healing. 1 Peter 2:24 says: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." In this verse, Peter is telling us that because of the stripes or welts Jesus received on His back before He was crucified, we have physical healing. Notice the past tense of the word "were;" this has already occurred and is a present benefit to a child of God. Some have argued that this verse referred to spiritual healing only. If this is the case, then why did Jesus have to be crucified at Calvary? If the stripes paid the price for sin, He could have stopped well short of His death on the cross.
The Greek word translated "stripes" means "the marks left by a blow welt, bruise, wound (that trickles with blood)." This clearly is distinguishable from being nailed to a cross and dying. Peter is wanting his readers (and us too) to know that Jesus Christ has not only secured their eternal salvation, He has also provided for their physical healing here on earth. God is not a respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34), so that the promise to Peter's readers also applies to us.
It is so easy to allow faith to slip into a place of "being comfortable." I don't think God necessarily wants us comfortable. I think He wants us to be witnesses and that includes living a life totally trusting in His Word. We probably will appear strange to the world when we talk about Divine Healing; it may cost us "respectability." Whatever it cost us, it is worth it. I want to be trusting in His Word every second of every day (do you see how this fits into praying without ceasing?). We are to be living moment by moment praying and trusting in His Word to save the lost, heal the sick and deliver from sin. We are to be consumed with His Presence daily. Today, tell Him you want Him to be involved in every part of your day.
The Greek word translated "stripes" means "the marks left by a blow welt, bruise, wound (that trickles with blood)." This clearly is distinguishable from being nailed to a cross and dying. Peter is wanting his readers (and us too) to know that Jesus Christ has not only secured their eternal salvation, He has also provided for their physical healing here on earth. God is not a respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34), so that the promise to Peter's readers also applies to us.
It is so easy to allow faith to slip into a place of "being comfortable." I don't think God necessarily wants us comfortable. I think He wants us to be witnesses and that includes living a life totally trusting in His Word. We probably will appear strange to the world when we talk about Divine Healing; it may cost us "respectability." Whatever it cost us, it is worth it. I want to be trusting in His Word every second of every day (do you see how this fits into praying without ceasing?). We are to be living moment by moment praying and trusting in His Word to save the lost, heal the sick and deliver from sin. We are to be consumed with His Presence daily. Today, tell Him you want Him to be involved in every part of your day.
