Just What the Doctor Ordered

Last Sunday night after church we were all hanging around late-like always-laughing and fellowshipping, still on the COEBA high. Soon after, in typical fashion, an overcrowded suv-load of rambunctious, well-dressed people was off to a local eatery to spend my money. Nestled in the group were my kids, Cam and Casey, 15 and 13 respectively (they think they're grown as much as I think I'm young). Cam had been complaining for some time about a sore on his leg that wouldn't heal-so long story short(ened)-we ALL ended up at the ER to get it checked out. We walked through the sliding doors to what resembled a scene from COPS as two officers mirandized a bloodied guy in restraints, right there in the doorway. Colorful language and sudden lunges indicated the suspect's disdain for our staring, so in a "non-Good Samaritan" sorta way, I stepped around the scene to sign in. "C'mon yall," I yelled back to the rest of the crew-my son included-still standing in the doorway pretending they weren't scared. After registering and going back into the ER, the nurse removed Cam's homemade dressing to gasp at the size of the large, oozing sore just above his left shin. We learned that the daily dosing of hydrogen peroxide, despite what we thought, was not helping the situation. The doc soon confirmed that this sore simply needed to be flushed daily with clean water and re-gauzed. It would take time, but this simple, regular procedure would eventually result in complete healing. Thinking about that episode this morning, I'm reminded of Eph. 5:26 where concerning the church, Jesus died "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Also, Psalm 119:9 which says, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." People look to different sources to heal the wounds of life. Counsel, books, activity, meditation...these can all be "good" things, but there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, that can replace the spiritual and emotional balm of the Word of God. Do you have scars that won't seem to heal? Do you have hurt that needs attention? Bathe yourself in the Word! Consistently. Daily. It will take some time. But you will find restoration that only the Great Physician can guarantee.