Daily Encouragement: Year 2, Day 64

From Handbook to God’s Promises

GOD’S INCARNATION

Spiritual GP
Read Isaiah 9:6–7

Except in rare cases, and primarily in rural areas, the days of the medical general practitioner (GP) are gone. Once an icon of American medicine, the kindly doctor, equipped with his black bag and making house calls, has been replaced by a bewildering lineup of medical specialists. The title of doctor, once easily and immediately understandable, now covers some 35 specialty areas recognized by the American Medical Association, such as child psychiatry, aerospace medicine, otolaryngology, forensic pathology, and nuclear medicine, just to name a few. GPs still exist, but they represent only 2 percent of practicing physicians in America.

This isn’t all bad, of course. The reason behind the move from the general to the specific in medicine is the exploding base of knowledge. Research and technology have revealed more diagnostic methods and treatments than people could have dreamed about just a half-century ago. The positive side of these developments is better medical care; the necessary result has been the specialization of medicine. Consequently, no individual doctor can stay current in every medical field.

Such is not the case in the spiritual realm. God inspired the prophet Isaiah to describe the coming Messiah as everything the world’s inhabitants would ever need. He would be a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He would govern with justice and righteousness forever. In short, He would be a spiritual general practitioner, who would come as God incarnate into the human realm with the capacity to cure every sin-sick soul on earth. Jesus Christ came as that Messiah.

Jesus not only makes house calls, but through His Holy Spirit He also makes car calls, office calls, vacation calls, and church calls. In fact, wherever you may find yourself, Jesus Christ is there to care for you. He is a general practitioner with a specific knowledge of your needs, and he invites you to come to Him—no appointment necessary (Matthew 11:28–30).

God’s Promise: His Son will meet you whenever and wherever you need Him.