Sick Days
Posted in Daily Focus on Sunday, October 13, 2013
Because of sickness, the winter of 1988 was the worst interruption to our homeschooling days. Chicken pox hit our family hard, and for one long month, homeschooling was set aside as I worked to nurse my four children back to health. Every two weeks, one after another, my children fell ill and laid on the couch to recover. Every day was consumed with making healthy recipes, wiping runny noses, and finding activities for my children to occupy themselves while healing from the red, itchy sores. Quarantined, I wondered, "Will I ever see the outside world again?"
In Leviticus 13, isolation was a remedy for leprosy for God's people. A priest would look for signs on the skin of people or their articles of clothing that showed them to be unclean. Upon the priest's pronouncement, a person would be removed from the rest of the community until that person's body was healed (Leviticus 13:46).
Isolation can also bring healing as you face the sickness of sin in your life. Alone and free of distractions, you can hear the Holy Spirit gently nudging you to make changes that are necessary in your life. Healing and forgiveness from Christ renew your soul and restore a healthy relationship between you and the Lord. You are able to face the world again living a Christ-honoring life. "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).
Has the sin of self-pity, impatience, or greed spotted your walk with the Lord and made you sick? If so, isolate yourself immediately and go to Jesus, your healing high priest. He has promised to wash us and cleanse us if we come to Him in repentance. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the things I have allowed to dirty my life. Wash me today, so I might be a vessel fit for Your service, which will bring honor to Your name, Amen.
Comments(7 comments)
SISTER L 10/13/2008 07:43:46
I agree. There have been times when God forced me into being alone in order to get my attention. It's then that we have no one else to talk to but Him, yet it was Him all along that we should have been talking to.
Brandy F 10/13/2010 07:40:17
What a timely reminder of how important it is for us to take our "dirtiness" to a place where only true cleansing can take place. I have recently been distracted by things other than my relationship with Jesus and His word. He has been gracious enough to continue drawing me close and reminding me where my devotion should be. This article was just another reminder of God's desire for me, as well as my children, to seek Him out daily as not to fall into distractions or outright sin. Thank you for your committment to the homeschooling family.
AUDRA K 10/13/2011 07:24:20
Thanks. I needed this today. : ). Blessings to all.
LINDA C 10/13/2011 08:00:02
As the morning dawns on a day of Sabbath Rest of God, The Feast Of Tabernacles. I praise God and thank Him for His love and His rest. A time to draw near to Him... Today's devotional was a real blessing. Thank you.
A blessed Sukkot to all of you.
KATHY S 10/13/2012 06:53:37
This is yet another reminder of how I need to shut the T.V. off, and quietly pray to the Lord.
Thanks and have a Blessed Day!
GWYNETH K 10/14/2012 07:00:43
It was a wonderful, full sabbath day for our family, and this devo was a great reminder to run to Jesus and to be cleansed and set free from sin! The self pity part really hit home for me, especially on those hard days when the children won\'t listen and the tantrums from my toddler start, oh Lord give us strength in the hard moments so we do not doubt your love and care and focus on what bad thinges we ourselves are going through! You are good, you know our troubles, set us free from self pity and run to you. Have a blessed week!
Pam suulivan 10/14/2013 13:32:24
This post was so timely. Before I read it, i was doing my own devotion time and sin and repentance was a BIG part of it. I am struggling with doing the same sin over and over again. And it is not a sin for everyone, but a sin for me because it means I am not taking care of my body. But reading this devotion reminds me that daily checking in BEFORE I sin might be helpful....and that Jesus forgives, time and again.