I call various people now and then to find out how they are doing. One call was to a friend of mine whose wife is in a care facility on the East Rand. They have been in lock down for about three weeks longer than we have. In chatting yesterday, he said he was off to the local Medical Centre today to have his annual flu injection. I thought that was a great idea and called Clicks in Waverly. They said they were unsure whether they had stock left, so I called Clicks in Gezina. They had stock.
Jenny and I got ready to brave going out for the first time since lock down. I had some new industrial face masks and industrial latex gloves bought a long time ago at Chamberlain’s Hardware. Off we went and managed to get a parking space close to the Clicks Store. The store was extremely busy. We were second in line at Self Medication, purchased the vaccine and soon in the queue to see the nursing sister. We waited for about an hour–not because the queue was long, but because there were three sets of parents with babies ahead of us. During our wait, some people tried to jump the queue unsuccessfully and others waited for 5 or 10 minutes and left. We were out of the sister’s room within 5 minutes. Because Woolworths was so close by, we bought fruit and other items needed before returning home.
The experience was quite nice with most people being friendly and helpful opposed to the normal rushing, “me first” attitude. So I can boast that “I took Jenny out”, bought her a chocolate and some miniature chicken burgers which we warmed up for lunch.
I know that the flu injection does not always keep you healthy. Often you get slightly sick before the vaccine works in the body. The great news is that it does help prevent serious illnesses during the winter.
That’s for the body … but what about the soul?
As you are well aware, after salvation as we mentioned yesterday, prayer and Scriptures are vital.
The Psalmist says:
Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
The Word of God is central to spiritual health and life. When the saved soul uses the Word it is the Vaccine of God!
James says:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
The prayer of the saved soul (the righteous person) will be according to Scripture and will be powerful and effective.
And then Paul explains one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit:
Ro 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
See that?
When we pray according to the Bible (God’s Will), we might still be confused about what exactly we need to pray about and for, especially when it is of a personal nature, even when our heart is right with God. It is then that the Holy Spirit steps in and takes the Vaccine of God (Bible) and prays the prayer correctly for our benefit.
And it’s then that the Great Advocate before the Heavenly Bar speaks for us in our defense!
1Jn 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1Jn 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins …
Once the process of cleansing has taken place, Jesus takes our prayers (and that of the Holy Spirit) and speaks (prevents our case like an advocate) for our benefit.
Thank you Lord for such mercy. Amen.