I don't know about you but I HATE going to the doctor. There is something about the white walls, bad art and its unique smell that just sends my stomach into knots. I know that hospitals are making an effort to upgrade their decor, but I see right through it. But that is really only one half of my averse reaction to doctors. The other side of the coin is that I'm afraid. I'm scared of what they might say. Even when I go in for something simple like the flu I'm secretly convinced that I've contracted a rare, fatal disease like the ones you see on ER. Even a check up has me fearing the worst. This mental condition has me avoiding doctors at all costs. I pretty much need a spear to the chest to convince me that I need to go in.
Unfortunately, I think that's how we see God sometimes. We think that if we could just hide from Him, avoid Him, and keep our relationship with Him at a distance we'll never have to see just how sick we really are. As if by keeping God at arm's length we are staying healthier. But ignorance isn't healthy. We ARE sick.
This week at Awake we looked at Mark 2:13-17. Despite being surrounded by a crowd Jesus noticed a tax collector named Levi. He calls Levi to "follow him," (the ultimate friend request) and he did. They went to Levi's house and Jesus ate with him and some fellow "sinners." The Pharisee's on the other hand just couldn't understand why Jesus would eat with the lowest of the low. I love how Jesus replied. He said that it's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Did that mean that Jesus didn't come for the Pharisees? No! They had just forgotten that they were sick too. If I was honest I'd love to be Levi in the story but I think more times than not I'm more like the Pharisees. It's so easy to forget that I'm sick, hold Jesus at arm's length away and pretend like everything is alright. But it's not alright, I'm sick and so are you. I need the doctor. I need his friend request. But I believe with all my heart that what He said to Levi he is saying to us, "Follow me."
Very nice! I really like the say you relate it to your personal life!
Posted by: Jasmine Talton | July 01, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Thanks Jasmine!
Posted by: Justin | July 02, 2009 at 11:24 AM