The Order of St. Luke The Physician in The United Kingdom Benevolent Society
Healing and a New Beginning
Christian Healing Ministry Pamphlets By Hilda M. Moore

NEW BEGINNINGS.

As we read the New Testament stories we come across many people who have been able to make a new beginning as a result of their having met up with Jesus. Luke tells us the story of Zaccheus (Ch. 19 v 1 10) He was a man who was greatly disliked amongst his people. A man nobody trusted; a man who was a sinner. He was probably also a man who had few friends. And what did Jesus do? He did not criticise or condemn him. He simply told the man that He was coming to be a guest in his house. He accepted the man as he was, with all his sins and his wrongdoings. He looked beneath the surface and saw the real man there, a man who was hungry for love, a man who badly needed friendship. And because Zaccheus saw this love and friendship he so needed shining from the face of Jesus he became conscious of his many sins. He was moved to repent of his wrongdoings and to make a new beginning. He was healed, not of any physical sickness but of his wrong relationship with his fellow men.


Then we have the story of the 10 lepers who came to Jesus for healing. As you know leprosy in those days was a dreadful disease to have. It cut a person off from all their friends and relatives and they were not allowed to enter other people's homes or go near anyone. They were forced to lead the life of an outcast and quite often had to live outside the city walls. When these men saw Jesus they called upon Him to have mercy on them. The Bible gives very little detail as to what actually happened. It does not tell us if Jesus had any conversation with them or that He touched them in any way. It simply says that He told them to go and show themselves to the priests, which was the customary thing for a person to do when he had been healed of leprosy.


I can imagine them turning slowly away; perhaps feeling a little disappointed that Jesus had not healed them immediately as He had healed so many other people. Perhaps also feeling a little dubious about going when they could still see the signs of the disease in themselves. But still they went. This is the important thing. They went and as they put their faith into action healing began to take place in them. Their faith may have been very small   as small as the proverbial mustard seed   but they still acted upon it and followed His commands. Can you imagine the scene as they went along the road? First one man would notice that healing had come to him and would perhaps show himself to his neighbour, who would then look at his own hand and realise that he also had received healing. Then another and another till every one had been healed. Can you imagine the excitement they would feel as they stood there in a group and thought of all it would mean to them to be able to go back to their wives and children and take up their normal lives again? What a wonderful new beginning they could make.


When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead He was giving him a fresh start. When He gave sight to the blind He was giving them a fresh start. And so it is today. We are repeatedly being given the opportunity of making a new beginning. When Jesus Christ came into the world the people of the New Testament times were being offered a new beginning. We have seen what they did with it. What are we doing with the opportunities that are being offered to us? Every morning is a new beginning. Every day is another chance to prove ourselves as we go on our way; another opportunity to show what we are worth. Every time we meet another person it is another chance to spread God's love around the world; to offer them friendship and love and to make them feel that someone cares.


Many of the people that Jesus healed are not mentioned again, but I would like to think that they accepted this fresh start; then they went on to live their lives to the glory of God. The healing of the body is not enough in itself. If we do not use our bodies and our minds in the right way after we are healed; whether the healing comes through the services of the Medical Profession or through prayer; it is quite likely that we will fall sick again. Perhaps, with something even worse than we had before.


This is what Jesus had in mind when He said "Go and sin no more less a worse evil may befall thee." So many of our physical sicknesses are tied in with our emotional and spiritual life that if we go around with feelings of resentment, fear, greed, hate, unforgiveness and other such negative thoughts in our hearts, it is really not surprising that we fall sick again. Apart from the fact that it is so much more pleasant to be fit and well; we also have a duty to our families and friends, to keep as fit as possible, and even more important we have a duty towards God. It is He who has given us such a wonderful and sensitive body. So do not wait till you fall sick but start NOW to follow the laws of Jesus Christ and so keep your body in as good a state of health as possible.


Those of us who are closely involved in the Healing Ministry have come to see that the healing of a physical sickness is not nearly so important as the way in which we conduct our lives, because so often a bodily sickness is only a symptom of some disharmony at the inner core of our being. If we are to live in harmony with our fellow men we must first of all find harmony with God. As I have said so many times before we can only do this by getting to know Him.


As this knowledge and understanding deepens we shall find that we are then able to entrust ourselves and our loved ones into His care without any reservations whatsoever. If we get into the habit of placing each day and all it holds for us into His hands. And asking His guidance in all the decisions we have to make; we shall find that whenever one door closes He will guide us towards another door, which will lead to our ultimate happiness and well being. We shall also find that we are not wasting the opportunities that will come our way of making NEW BEGINNINGS and we shall also find that we are not missing love's healing touch, which God is all the time offering to us.



A HEALING PSALM


The Lord is my Healer.
I will fear no illness.
He shows me His purpose
And leads me towards perfect health.
He restores my strength.
He breaks down the mental barriers
To implement this plan.

Yes, though I walk in the long shadow of pain
I will have no fear.
For I trust in Thy will for my health.
Thy love and Thy strength
They uphold me.

Thy Creative Law works for my restoration to health.
In Thy presence illness fades.
Thou soothest all my doubts;
Thy Sacrament is my peace.
Surely Thy Healing Light is round about me
Bringing perfect health,
And I will stand in the power of Thy love forever.

Revd. Dr. Kenneth Hibberd    



They crossed the lake and came to land at Gennesaret, where the people recognised Jesus.

So they sent for the sick people in all the surrounding country and brought them to Jesus.

They begged him to let those who were ill at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well.

Matthew 14- 34,36
“But the greatest of these is love.”  (1 Corinthians 13 v13)