The day was great. It was the first day of above freezing temperatures in our area in a while, it was a Saturday the sun was shining, and we were going to watch the granddaughter play volleyball and basketball. The trip from our house to theirs is about 90 miles so we left early and arrived just in time for the first game. They won that volleyball game and then it was on to the basketball game about 20 minutes down the road. Another victory and then it was time to go eat. We had a great meal in one of our favorite little taco shops in Fort Worth. Then it was time for the trek home. The sun was still shining but the day was waning as we hit the highway, the end to a perfect day…almost.
About 15 minutes from home, it started. A tickle in my throat and a little cough. No big deal just strained the old vocal chords yelling too much at the games. But the cough just wouldn’t go away. More frequently, harder and deeper. All night it kept me up. With church service the next morning and me preaching this wasn’t a good thing. Finally, about 4:30 in the morning I gave up and got up. Coffee and cough drops for breakfast. I went ahead and preached Sunday morning with a voice like a 13 year old going through puberty. After service I came home and basically went to bed and stayed the rest of the day and night.
It’s now the third day since the first tickle and while I’m much better and actually sitting outside finally enjoying some of the wonderful weather we’re experiencing, I’m still interrupted by a cough that feels like it’s trying to bring up a lung. It’s funny how things can go from so good to so bad so quickly. But such is life. As I stated in a previous post and even preached on last Sunday, we go through ups and downs.
But being down these last few days has reminded me of some things. First, it’s good to have help. By Sunday evening I was in a position that getting out of my recliner to get a glass of water was a chore. Luckily my wife was there. My water was delivered, meals brought to me, blankets adjusted, her hand constantly on my forehead. She said she was checking for fever, but I like to think I’m just irresistible to her. The point is, she took care of me as she always does. The connection to others can’t be overstated.
Jesus came to build His church and that church isn’t a building or a place to go, but rather it’s the people. It’s the individuals who have given themselves to Christ that comprise His church. God has understood since the very beginning of creation just how important connection with other people is. That’s why after five days of creation, at the end of each day He would say, “It is good” On the sixth day God saw something that wasn’t good that He had created. And that was a man alone.
‘The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.’
(Genesis 2:18, 20-22)
The first time that God saw that something wasn’t good was when He saw man alone. Connection and relationship have always been on the top of God’s priority list. That’s one of the reasons Christ came, to get His sheep together under one Shepherd. As Matthew recorded:
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
(Matthew 9:35-36)
Sheep without a shepherd are alone. On their own without the comfort of the flock or the Shepherd. You see, one of the greatest benefits of becoming one of His is that you are no longer on your own. You are in the flock protected and taken care of by the greatest Shepherd and encouraged and lifted up by the brothers and sisters. As Paul told the Thessalonians:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
So first, we get through bad days by having help, help from the Shepherd and help from His flock.
Second, we get better by taking our medicine. I’ve got antibiotics, cough syrup, pain medicine. Every few hours my wife was giving me a handful of pills. I’ve always said if she ever wants to get rid of me she could poison me so easily because I never question what she’s giving me. But I’m confident that they were a combination of the above-mentioned medicines given at the proper time to help me feel better. As the doctor says, “Stay on your meds, take them right and they will work.”
The 119th Psalm is filled with the medicine we need when we’re not doing so well:
“I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.”
(Psalm 119:25)
“My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.”
(Psalm 119:28)
“I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.”
(Psalm 119:107)
The medicine we all need, and this world needs is the word of God.
So, this is a late post after a bit of an absence, to remind you, don’t discount the importance of being connected to the flock, it’s been a priority of God’s since the beginning, and don’t forget to take your medicine. Between those two eventually you’ll be out of the recliner and bed and sitting in the sun.
“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.”
(Psalm 147:3)