Prayer for the Sick
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Remedial Agencies
Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make use
of the remedial agencies within their reach. It is not a denial of faith
to use such remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain and to aid
nature in her work of restoration. It is no denial of faith to co-operate
with God, and to place themselves in the condition most favorable
to recovery. God has put it in our power to obtain a knowledge of
the laws of life. This knowledge has been placed within our reach
for use. We should employ every facility for the restoration of health,
taking every advantage possible, working in harmony with natural
laws. When we have prayed for the recovery of the sick, we can work
with all the more energy, thanking God that we have the privilege of
co-operating with Him, and asking His blessing on the means which
He Himself has provided.
We have the sanction of the word of God for the use of remedial
agencies. Hezekiah, king of Israel, was sick, and a prophet of God
brought him the message that he should die. He cried unto the Lord,
and the Lord heard His servant, and sent him a message that fifteen
years should be added to his life. Now one word from God would
have healed Hezekiah instantly; but special directions were given, “Let
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them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he
shall recover.” [
Isaiah 38:21
.]
On one occasion Christ anointed the eyes of a blind man with
clay, and bade him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.... He went his
way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” [
John 9:7
.] The cure
could be wrought only by the power of the great Healer, yet Christ
made use of the simple agencies of nature. While He did not give
countenance to drug medication, He sanctioned the use of simple and
natural remedies.
When we have prayed for the recovery of the sick, whatever the
outcome of the case, let us not lose faith in God. If we are called upon
to meet bereavement, let us accept the bitter cup, remembering that
a Father’s hand holds it to our lips. But should health be restored, it
should not be forgotten that the recipient of healing mercy is placed
under renewed obligation to the Creator. When the ten lepers were
cleansed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let none
of us be like the unthinking nine, whose hearts were untouched by