I just read an interesting article about a woman in India having a dispute with her husband. The woman was healed from a disease and she claims it was a miracle. Her husband says she was taking medication and following her doctor's advice. The woman claimed that God intervened on her behalf, and the man claimed that God was not involved.

I consider it a foolish argument. If the woman was healed by taking medication and following the doctor's advice, would that mean that God was not involved? No way!

Suppose we were to give the medication credit for curing the ailment. Then we would have to give the inventor of the medication some of the credit. I have no doubt that a very intelligent human being invented the medication. Who gave that human being the intelligence? Who inspired that human being to think of a cure for the disease in question?

I suppose the doctor studied for many years in a university. In fact, the doctor probably read many textbooks that many other people would be unable to comprehend. It seems that even people with much higher than average intelligence must work hard for years to become doctors.

Who gives these doctors this intelligence? Who gives these doctors the ability to work that hard for so many years?

We know that surgeons are able to make incisions through their patient's skin and flesh and sew them up again. We consider surgeons to be very skillful doctors. We know that after some time the flesh and the skin will grow back together and the wound will be healed. It seems that the body naturally heals itself whenever incisions and stitched and dressed properly. Who designed our bodies this way?

We know some things about medicines as well. We know that the active ingredient in aspirin was first discovered in the bark of the willow tree. Who put it there? Who inspired the first person to discover the pain relief properties of willow bark?

Many times God does not get credit for healing unless a faith healer lays hands on a person and that person is instantly healed. I think God ought to get credit more often.

Whenever a baby is born alive we ought to give credit to God. Whenever we overcome a headache we ought to give credit to God. It doesn't matter if the headache went away because we prayed for it to go away or if we took aspirin. God deserves credit either way.

My daughter just started taking medication to shrink a pituitary gland tumor. I am grateful because Dr. Lier, in Aurora, discovered what was wrong. I am grateful because a technician using the MRI device at the Virginia hospital confirmed his suspicions. I am grateful that Dr Glazier, the surgeon at St. Mary's discovered that this tumor could be treated by medication. I am grateful that Dr. Sjoberg, the endocrinologist at St. Luke's, prescribed the medication that will shrink this tumor back to normal size.

I am grateful to God that all these talented people are available for us. I am grateful to God for the help Rebecca has received from these dedicated medical professionals.

I think it is a wonderful thing whenever people are healed by direct divine intervention. It is evidence that God is working among us. I think that each time a researcher discovers a new cure it is also evidence that God is working among us.

When someone is cured by direct divine intervention, we ought to thank God. When someone is cured by doctors and medication, we ought to thank the doctors and thank God.

May God bless you and keep you safe and well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Birk