GOD’S WORD FOR NOVEMBER 14
GOD’S WORD FOR NOVEMBER 14 ~ ~ Psalm 25:17-18 ~ ~ “The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh, bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.”
The aspirin tablet has been hailed as the miracle drug of the twentieth century. Although it took the twentieth century to flavor, coat and stamp little letters on aspirin, people have been using aspirin for centuries. The most common form in which aspirin has been taken is as willow bark tea.
Aspirin has relieved billions of headaches and brought nearly as many fevers under control over the years. In recent years, aspirin has become even more important since studies have shown that as little as half an aspirin per day can help prevent heart attacks.
Despite its long standing use in medicine, physicians had no idea how aspirin worked until a few decades ago. Researchers now know that aspirin does not simply mask the pain of a headache, but it chemically turns off the cause of the average headache. It does this by deactivating the chemical made by the blood vessels that causes them to constrict. Another member of that same family of chemicals, called prostaglandins, prevents blood platelets from sticking together, helping blood to flow more freely and preventing heart attacks. This is also why aspirin can cause stomach bleeding.
In His foreknowledge, our Creator knew, regretfully, that the human race would fall into sin. He knew that among the effects of a world changed by sin would be pain and sickness. So in His mercy He provided plants that would make the active ingredient in aspirin. But the greatest expression of His love for us was in providing us with a cure for the worst and deadliest ailment of mankind—-sin, only through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
If it wasn’t for sin, we wouldn’t have headaches, or any pain, old age, death, nor rot or sadness of any kind. Jesus came to die for our individual sins, and if we accept that, and live for Him alone, knowing we cannot earn our way to heaven in any way, we will live forever in that perfect world with Him.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice of pain and deprivation for us. Thank You for Your victory over death and satan, by which we will benefit if we accept it. Thank You for being with us always, guarding, guiding, growing, and gracing us with Your peace. We will praise You forever.