“Bless the
LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the
LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits . . .” and here’s where I have
to stop and think. This is a passage I’ve been reviewing the past several
weeks—on my way to school, washing my hair, waiting to fall asleep. I always
want to say next “Who heals all your diseases,” but that’s not what comes next.
The next
verse begins “Who forgives all your iniquities.” Then, it’s “Who heals all your
diseases.” Isn’t that just the way we humans think, though? We are so focused
on our bodies—our hungers, our pains, our diseases—and certainly I am so
grateful that God made our bodies to heal and to respond to appropriate
treatment. It’s the spiritual that really matters most, though. If God does not
forgive my sins, all the bodily health in the world will eventually be for
nothing.
And yet,
even Jesus ministered to physical needs, didn’t He? He provided all that bread
and fish; He stopped the storm at sea; He found money to pay taxes for Peter
and Himself. Helping people with their earthly concerns makes them better able
to think about loftier matters. I don’t know if the order of God’s benefits in
Psalm 103 is truly significant, but it has caused me to stop and think about
where my priorities lie. I am trying not to be one of those people “whose god
is their belly” (Philippians 3:19) while also acknowledging that sometimes
people need a helping hand before they need a sermon. : )
As our pastor
is encouraging us to think of all the ways the Church operates, and as we think
about various kinds of outreach both collectively and individually, I am thankful for scripture
that helps me find balance.
--Sherry Poff
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