Today’s devotional is a public service announcement with a theological twist at the end. The PSA is this: May 10-16 is not only a celebration of the police, but also National Women’s Health week which kicks off on Mother’s Day every year. This week is sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Today specifically is National Women’s Checkup Day.
“Cancer causes 1 in 6 deaths among women. Women younger than 50 are nearly twice as likely to develop cancer as men in the same age range.”1 Screenings, though, can help detect many of these cancers. Early detection means a better chance of curing the cancer.
Unfortunately, there are those who refuse to go to the doctor for yearly exams and tests. For some, it’s fear that keeps them from the doctor. Perhaps others believe such exams are too invasive to their privacy, dignity, and modesty – no argument there!. Others have the weird concept that if they don’t know there is something wrong, then nothing is wrong. The cost could be a factor keeping some from these routine checkups – again, this is a fact that cannot be denied.
However, there is a segment of our society – I hope it is a small portion – that believe that if they just have faith in God, they will be kept from these things. Their religious beliefs are held sincerely in this area.
While I would never ridicule their faith, I definitely believe they have misunderstood and misinterpreted the Scriptures. First of all, let’s introduce ourselves to the only doctor mentioned by name in the Bible.* His name is Luke. Colossians 4:14 simply says, “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” Neither he nor his profession are denounced.
Jesus spoke positively of doctors in Mark 2:17. “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus could have said that the sick need to just have faith. Instead, He said the sick need a physician.
Got Questions Ministries has some good insight on this topic. “There are many verses that speak of using “medical treatments” such as applying bandages (Isaiah 1:6), oil (James 5:14), oil and wine (Luke 10:34), leaves (Ezekiel 47:12), wine (1 Timothy 5:23), and salves, particularly the “balm of Gilead” (Jeremiah 8:22)…
“From these verses one might sift out the following principles:
1) Physicians are not God and should not be viewed as such. They can sometimes help, but there will be other times when all they will accomplish is the removal of money.
2) Seeking physicians and using “earthly” remedies are not condemned in Scripture. In fact, medical treatments are viewed favorably.
3) God’s intervention in any physical difficulty should be sought (James 4:2; 5:13). He does not promise that He will answer the way we will always want (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we have the assurance that all He does will be done in love and thus in our best interest (Psalm 145:8-9).”2
I would add a fourth principle. ALL healing comes from God. Exodus 15:26 says, “… for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” And Psalms 103:2-3 reminds us to “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”
We may get a bit petulant about this and say, “God does not heal all our diseases. My friend/loved one had cancer and we prayed for their healing. God didn’t heal them!” Oh, be careful, my friend. God never promised where or when He would heal us; He only promised that He would. The child of God who died of cancer or any other disease has been perfectly healed in glory! Best of all, they will never get any kind of sickness again – never!
God may choose to heal miraculously without doctors and He may choose to heal through doctors. So, should we get regular physicals and checkups, even if they require those intrusive exams? Absolutely! Why wouldn’t we want to discover a problem earlier rather than later? And if all the results come back good, that clean bill of health gives you cause to REJOICE!
Before I conclude this devotional, let me say very clearly: Guys, this is for you, too! When was the last time you went to the doctor for a good physical? I’m thankful that I was getting regular blood work due to Fire Department physicals that revealed issues with my 
prostate. They caught the cancer early and were able to take care of things before the cancer metastasized. Go get checked! Set the example. Be a big boy and don’t cry. You might get a lollipop after the exam!
We are called to frequent spiritual checkups as well. Don’t neglect these appointments, either. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Let’s also keep an appointment with Psalms 139:23-24. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
1https://womenshealth.gov/nwhw
2https://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-go-doctors.html
*I think this is the only physician mentioned by name. Let me know if you find another one.
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