
June 14, 2024
Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed
- James 5:16.
The spiritual representation of the Lord's Body is the Church (1 Corinthians 12:27). Much in the same way the human body becomes weak, sickly or dies prematurely because of poor state of health in its members, the body of Christ can suffer because of poor relationships between brothers and sisters in Christ. “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep" (1st Corinthians 11:28-29).
When a sick person goes to see a physician for treatment for an illness within the body, or a discomfort, the physician makes a diagnosis based on the description by the sick person. This is what informs the physician’s remedies (medication, further tests, referrals, and so on). Except for rare and unusual cases, often the sick person gets relief from the illness when they have followed the physician’s recommendations. If the sick person describes their symptoms incorrectly, they are diagnosed incorrectly, and the prescription will not address their illness.
Let us extend this illustration to the church and substitute the person going to the physician for the body of Christ, the Church. And let us substitute the physician for the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, then we can describe for example, a symptom within the Body, that could be a source of discomfort between members according to James 4:1-2. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight”.
When this is the sickness, but confession is not made accordingly, the power of God to move (to hear and answer prayer) within the Body is held up. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” James 5:16.
This is why we must confess issues before Him whom we must give account, whom nothing is hidden from and everything is laid bare before His eyes (Hebrews 4:13).
The Great Physician’s prescription is simple and bi-directional, to the offender and the offended in the body of Christ.
To the offender “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” Matthew 5:23-24.
To the offended “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” Mark 11: 25-26.
Song of Worship
The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
Prayer -Dear Lord, I receive grace to confess anything I am holding in my heart against my brother and sister in Christ. I receive grace to forgive everyone who has offended me. I do this so that I discern the body of Christ with reverence and that Your Power may flow freely in Your Church, your Body to which I belong, that sickness, weakness and premature death ceases in the midst of the Church in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: Ezra 9-10; Acts 1