The Game Changer

TITLE: The Game changer                                                                                           
DATE: November 15, 2019

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: Luke 4:40 – ESV - 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

If one of your children brought home a test, and on that test the teacher had graded it at “50%”, how would  you feel? Would you be disappointed of or saddened? What would you say to  your child? Would you tell them, “That’s unacceptable” or would you encourage, “I think it’s time to buckle down on your studies.” Is it possible you would observe:, “If you don’t understand the subject it’s time for us to get  you some help.”

As parents most of us would say something because 50% on a test is not something to write home about.

You should know there are other people, who look at “50%” and are overjoyed.  

High on the list of such people would be those who are fighting the world’s deadliest infectious disease, the disease which is responsible, each year for the deaths of 1.6 million people. These are the folks who are battling TB, tuberculosis.
Recently those folks who have been struggling in an uphill battle have been saying things like: 

The new vaccine being tested by GlaxoSmithKline is providing a “watershed moment”
And is a “game changer”
And it will “revolutionize TB treatment.

Everyone is impressed; everyone is hopeful, even though this miracle drug works only 50% of the time. That’s right... only 50% of the time. And why are they impressed? They are impressed with that 50% figure because it still means that millions of lives will be saved.

Having heard about the latest in TB treatment, I would like you to take another look at the passage selected for this devotion: It reads:  - 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

Let’s answer a few questions:
Who brought the sick to Jesus: Anybody; everybody

Whist kind of diseases were brought to the Savior? Various diseases, a cross section.

What did Jesus do? Laid His hands on them.

Which person/illness did Jesus skip? He touched every one of them and healed them all.

Jesus had a 100% cure rate on 100% of the patient who were brought to Him.                              
                
Folks that’s mighty impressive, but it is almost child’s play when it is compared the fact that Jesus:
Jesus’ blood can wash away every sin from every soul
Jesus’ blood can offer peace of conscience to every individual who is turned to Him.
Jesus’ blood can restore broken relationship between God and His fallen children.
Jesus’ blood opens heaven to every believer  who is brought to repentance and faith.

This 100% healing of body, mind, soul and spirit is a gift only Christ can give... and it is a game changer for which we should give thanks.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in this world, because of sin, we never see perfection, not 100% of the time. Which is why I rejoice that God’s perfect Son has come to save every soul which is brought to Him with a heart that is repentant. For this 100% victory I give thanks in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this address: https://www.newser.com/story/282360/this-may-be-watershed-moment-in-tb-fight.html   and the article written by John Johnson .

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html