Today's Devotional

October 8, 2004

Subject:  A Hospital For Sick People 

Acts 5:16 - "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."

I remember a friend I had in college who said that he didn't go to church because he didn't want to be hypocritical.  You've probably heard people make that analysis of the church.  The point is that they know they have "issues" and they want to get them fixed before they go into this place of reverence.   Not a bad motive, but it's as misguided as the person who would say, "I'll go to the hospital after I get healed."   As the hospital is a place for sick people or those in need of physical healing, so is the church for those in need of spiritual healing.  

As you can tell by the verse above, the early church was the place for physical and spiritual healing.  People brought those were sick and they got healed.  You'll find that this church was in a continual state of growth.  

In our day and age, with the wisdom and intellect that we have, we believe that we can heal ourselves with another drug or some gimmick that's been created, but in reality, we're all in varying levels of spiritual need and healing.  For that, we need the hospital; the church. 

 Carlen