Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
Nothing’s worse than taking bad tasting medicine when you already feel sick and awful.
There’s that white, chalky, liquid gunk you have to gulp down for diarrhea, or that goopy, pink potion for stomach cramps. They’re downright nauseating. I usually have to quickly swallow something else just to keep the concoctions down.
Yes, the doctors and nurses assure me it’s the best thing I can do, and I believe them. But it doesn’t make the stuff slide down any easier.
Swallowing some of the hard sayings of Jesus can be a lot like ingesting that stomach-turning medicine. You know a particular truth in His Book is the best thing for your spiritual health … but that doesn’t make it any easier going down.
It may be His advice to wait in the middle of an anxious, nail-biting family situation.
It may be His admonition to forgive a backbiting enemy.
It may be His quiet urging to pray compassionately and specifically for an in-law you just can’t stand.
It may be His persistent reminder that all things are working together for your good, even though your toddler has to undergo critical surgery.
Some of that is simply hard to swallow.
Some of the Lord’s disciples had this problem as well. At one point Jesus had some rather strong words for His would-be followers:
On hearing [these words], many of his disciples said,
“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?… The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:60-61, 63).
The Lord Jesus admits some may find His words offensive. Even bad tasting. Nevertheless, His words are spirit and life. His advice, His counsel, His admonishments are life-giving medicine.
Still, acknowledging that fact won’t make life into a picnic in the park. The family problems may get worse, your enemy may go on the rampage, and your in-law may get under your skin worse than ever.
But medicine is medicine. And even the hard words of Christ contain life and strength. Swallowing isn’t easy, but it’s the best option there is.
Healing makes all of life taste better.