Today's Word is "Submit"

We're back in the hospital and I'll not fill you in with the ugly details. Suffice it to say I've experienced my first ambulance ride from our local emergency room to the larger hospital 60 miles away.

Things are moving slowly but at least we believe positively.

As Christians we pray, of course, that God will heal and bless and extend mercy. But also, as Christians, we are quite familiar with the scripture that points out the demise of such a great man as John the Baptist. From having experienced the high moment of his life as a prophet when he observed the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus at His baptism, he ended up in prison and at the mercy of Herod. Surely he must have been wondering, "Was I wrong? Was I a false prophet? Was I self-deluded?" To have seen Jesus confirmed by the Holy Spirit and by the voice of the Father and then to find himself in the lowest depths of despair must have been totally confusing to the Baptist.

And did Jesus rescue him from his untimely death? No. Instead he exhibits to John's followers His miracles of healings and he tells them to report to John. Jesus reassures John that John had not erred in proclaiming the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Jesus gave him reassurance but did not rescue him from his plight. John's head still ended up on Herod's platter.

Today's health, wealth and prosperity so-called-gospel tells us that if we have enough faith, that if we pray hard enough, if we are obedient enough, or if we pay enough seed money, that God will surely heal. And conversely, if we are not healed, we are at fault for not having enough faith.

I have to ask, "What!? Did not Jesus love John? And does He not love those who are His?"

And so I presume, that as a Christian, God may or may not heal me. He may cause me to go through more fire. Whichever, in acknowledging Jesus as Lord, I can only bend and submit to His will.

Thanks be to God.