Christian Reformed Church of Geelong in Geelong, Victoria | Church

Christian Reformed Church of Geelong

Locality: Geelong, Victoria

Address: 231 Pakington St 3218 Geelong, VIC, Australia

Website: http://geelongcrc.org.au/

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25.01.2022 The Reformation.so what? When I was at College, with respect, some of our lecturers could sometimes go on and on and just fill us with information. After one such lecture, one student dared to ask, So what? How does all that information help us in ministry going forward? The lecturer then got out his fine writing pen and notebook and replied, The boy asks a good question I shall endeavour to answer him in the next lecture. Ever since that time, that particular lectu...rer never left a lecture without explaining the ‘So what!’ This coming Wednesday we remember an important event on the Church calendar, namely, Reformation Day when Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses on the doors of the Wittenberg Castle. So what you ask. Well, the so what is that this event was the catalyst which started a movement which has become known as the Reformation. Up until this time the Roman church had been teaching Scripture in a language that few could understand, and more disappointingly, much of what was being taught was actually contrary to what Scripture taught. Martin Luther, in the study of the original biblical languages, encouraged the Roman Church to reform so that it could teach what the Holy Scriptures actually taught. Sadly, the powers to be at the time in the Roman Church didn’t agree with Martin Luther and hence the Reformation began. Martin Luther and other ‘reformers’ taught five key principles found in Scripture, namely that salvation was in Christ alone (sola Christus Jn 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; 15:11), by Grace alone (sola gratia Eph 2:8-9), through Faith alone (sola fide Rom 3:21-28), guided by Scripture alone (sola scriptura Rom 1:16-17; 2 Tim 3:15-17), all to the glory of God alone (sola Deo gloria Eph 1:3-14; Phil 2:9-11). The five-letter word ‘alone’ is key to a proper understanding of what these biblical principles teach. It is not Christ and the saints; it is not Grace and our goodness; it is not Faith plus works; it is not Scripture plus what the church leaders say or write; and it is not glory to God and man! This major shift from what was being taught in the Roman church is not only biblical and the catalyst for the reformation way back on October 31st, 1517, it is of great comfort to us. Just imagine if salvation and eternal life depended on our goodness or on what we did in the first place. I think if we were truthful, we would all be rather miserable because in our heart of hearts we know we could never fully measure up to God’s perfect standard. Thankfully, God in his grace and mercy has given us His holy word which alone clearly teaches that He has done everything that is required to save us unto eternal life. This wonderful news, the giving and completed work of His Son alone at Calvary and beyond is graciously applied to our hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit. Hence, may all glory be to God alone forever. JZ See more

25.01.2022 The ‘weak’ Lamb is worthy of praise. In Revelation 5, John is weeping because no one is found worthy to open the scroll. Then one of the elders present tells John, Do not weep! See the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals (v5). However, when John looks up, he sees a Lamb, looking as though it had been slain standing at the center of the throne. These few verses encapsulate the gospel in its ‘weakness’ and it...Continue reading

24.01.2022 Christmas Day service at GCRC at Pako

23.01.2022 Remember - Daylight saving time ends this Sunday. Turn your clocks back one hour. Morning worship service starts at 10.00 am and the evening service starts at 5.00 pm.

23.01.2022 It’s the Lord’s Day Sometimes between worship services on a Sunday, Trudy and I will go for a walk down Pako St for some relaxing exercise. And it saddens us that for some people, the Sunday has become a little like the other six days of the week, just another working day. Now I realize that some staff who are working on Sunday may have other times when they can have a day off. I also realize that the cows need to be milked and the sick need to be cared for and o...Continue reading

22.01.2022 The beauty of being in God’s family Today we see the sacrament of baptism administered, twice! Little Harvey and Zackary are being presented by their respective parents for baptism. The parent’s wish is to present their children to our covenant God, before God’s people, to acknowledge and thank Him for the precious gift of new life and wishing their children to be regarded as part of His greater family. In the Old Testament (OT), God not only created the family unit (Ada...m and Eve), He became the Father of a whole nation when He called Abraham. God promised Abraham that He would be his God and that He would make him into a great nation, bless him, and all people would be blessed through him (Gen 12). God then made a covenant (promise) with Abraham assuring him that his descendants would be as many as the stars above and that God Himself would make it happen (Gen 15). And so, the nation of Israel was born, and they became God’s children, or if you will, His family. The sign that they were part of God’s family was that all boys at the age of eight days had to be circumcised. God also set down some house rules, the main ones being that they were to love Him above all and each other. Sometimes, God’s children enjoyed being part of God’s family and at other times they rebelled. But God as a loving Father, continued to love them, even disciplining them, but never forgetting they were His covenant children. The great love God had for his OT children continues into the New Testament (NT), and even more so. God’s promise to Abraham that all people would be blessed through his seed, has come to fruition with the birth of Jesus. God knew already when he made the promise to Abraham, that perfect obedience was beyond sinful human beings. So, He promised that a Saviour would be born (Gen 3:15) and that His law would be written on their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit) so that they are able to obey (Jer 31:31ff). So, in the fullness of time, because of His great love and mercy, He sent His one and only Son, born of Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, to be the Saviour of all who, by the power of the Holy Spirit would acknowledge their sin, repent of it and wholeheartedly believe that Jesus paid the debt through his death and resurrection. Today, all who believe in Jesus as Saviour and Lord are part of God’s NT family. Baptism is a lovely outward sign and symbol that all God’s promises in Jesus are true, not only for those who can make a heart confession but also for the children of all believers (Acts 2:42ff), just as children were part of God’s OT family. As parents, we are given the extra privilege of teaching our children (Deut 6:1-9; cf. Eph 6:1-4) about our God and especially His love to them in Jesus Christ As we do so, we pray that the Holy Spirit will help us and create faith in their hearts so that they too can stand with us and say, Jesus is mine and I love belonging to His family. JZ. See more

22.01.2022 God ordains a marvellous birth with eternal consequences One thing Christians believe is that there is a God who ordains all things, not just the big things, but even the small things that happen in life. On a recent Breakfast TV program, there was a short segment showing an exploding star that ‘just’ happened in some distant galaxy and we were ‘lucky’ enough to see it. And even though scientists were amazed by the spectacular sight there was no acknowledgement of a pow...erful God who had ordained that to happen, but simply a reference to the evolving universe. To know that God ordains all things is a real blessing for us and it is good to be reminded for we are prone to forget so quickly. Take the Christmas event as an example. God ordained beforehand that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2), one of probably many children born around that time. However, for this particular baby to be born at this time and this place, God also ordained it that Caesar Augustus would be moved to issue a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And as a result, Mary and Joseph needed to travel to Bethlehem to be registered so that the Scriptures concerning the birth of the Messiah would be fulfilled (Lk 2:1ff). Now if you are inclined to think that God ordaining the explosion of a star in some distant galaxy is a far more significant event than ordaining some census to be taken on a small little planet in this vast universe that He had created, you would be making a serious mistake. Likewise, if you were to think that the God-ordained birth of this little baby Jesus in Bethlehem some two thousand years ago is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, you would be making an even greater mistake. We may often feel pretty small being just one of nearly eight billion people walking on this earth. However, because of what God ordained for His glory to occur in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago, He shows that He loves us more than some exploding star in a distant galaxy. God did not ordain His Son to be born and then die for some distant star, but for us. In fact, God uses all things, whether it be Presidents or Prime Ministers, economic prosperity or poverty, health or illness, for the good of those who love Him in Christ so that He may be glorified as we are conformed more to the image of His Son. Thankfully, God also ordained that His proclaimed word, guided and effectively applied by the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts to bring us to a saving faith in His only Son as our Saviour and Lord. All this is and so much more gives us reason for worship and to share this good news this Christmas. The One and Only God, whom we are privileged to call our Father in Christ, not only ordains stars to explode in distant galaxies, but loves us and cares for us and promises to keep us in his safe arms for all eternity, no more clearly seen than in the giving and coming of His Son 2000 years ago. JZ.

15.01.2022 Meditation Remembrance Day At 11 am on 11th November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to unconditional surrender. Ever since, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special signifi...Continue reading

14.01.2022 Covid-19 and its effect ... As you are probably aware, the Federal Government has recommended that for indoor social gatherings, we should aim to have four meters of space for each person. We understand that this may not apply to members of the same family, however, in a public, social, setting such as a worship service, it becomes too difficult for us to manage. Furthermore, as a Christian Church we wish to be seen to be doing the right thing and staying ahead of their rec...ommendations, rather than behind. Therefore, considering this further restriction, Church Council has now decided to only live stream the Sunday morning worship service from 10.00 am. Our audio/visual team are working on making that happen. We will send you more details soon regarding how to connect to that live stream once it has been put in place. Hopefully, it will all go well, and if not this week, then the following week. Our Bulletin Editor will also be producing an online bulletin which I will send when it is received. We realise that this is necessary decision will hinder our opportunity for face to face fellowship. While this is disappointing, it is also a challenge and opportunity to take care of each other in other ways, whether it is by a phone call, text message, social media, or even a personal visit, keeping in mind the need for proper hygiene and clean hands etc. If you are unwell, please stay clear of others, especially those whose health is already compromised with other underlying illnesses. CC has also decided that there will be no evening services for the time being. Please be in prayer for those in our fellowship that are struggling with serious illness and recovering from surgery. We still have several members overseas, please remember them in your prayers too. We certainly live in strange days, so we need to be patient with each other and care for those in need especially our close neighbours. Please continue to remember those in authority over us, that they may be wise in giving direction, and especially for our medical services as they deal with those who are unwell with this virus. Since we don't really know how long this is going to last, we shall review it on a weekly basis, so watch this space. We hope to start normal worship services as soon as it is safe to do so and government restrictions are lifted. Thankfully, we know that the Lord continues to be on His throne, and since we are worth far more than many sparrows, we can be assured He will continue to care for us. May the Lord continue to bless you and yours with all that is necessary for life and well-being. John

13.01.2022 "When saying sorry isn't really enough..." When I was younger, I was often on dishes duty with my twin brother. (There are a lot of dishes after the evening meal in a household of ten people.) We didn’t have modern electric ‘dishwashers’ but had to do them by hand. I soon learnt that saying ‘sorry’ isn’t enough after allowing a second plate to fall out of my hands and smash on the floor. My parents soon told me that plates were expensive, and I needed to be more careful...Continue reading

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09.01.2022 It's all about God's glory... It shouldn’t surprise us that sinful mankind, without God’s Holy Spirit always tries to leave God out of the picture. Some of them go out of their way to try and disprove the existence of God. But they are fighting a losing battle for the centre of history and indeed this whole cosmos is the I AM, the uncreated, eternal Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Scripture begins with this central truth (Gen 1:1) that God has always been. G...od’s eternity is taught throughout Scripture and perhaps no more clearly when He commissioned Moses to bring God’s people out of Egyptian slavery. God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM’ (YAHWEH) Tell them, I AM has sent me to you. God’s enslaved people needed to realize that the eternal, uncreated God, who was also the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is going to save them out of slavery (Exo 3:14ff). The great I AM didn’t begin to exist in the burning bush, or at creation, but has always been and will be forever and to Him goes the glory. The I AM is the centre of the universe and beyond. The centre of the whole biblical story of creation, the ‘fall’, redemption history, salvation for sinners in Christ, their calling, justification, sanctification and glorification. is about the I AM and what He has done, is doing and still promises to do, all to His glory. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God will not give His glory to another (Isa 42:8). Hence it is our responsibility to ensure that God gets the glory and not us. Even unregenerate man can know that God exists from what He has made and can give Him glory. The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1). His divine nature and eternal power are for all to see (Romans 1:20). Sadly, less and less is heard about the centrality of God’s existence and the glory due to Him. We live in an age where we have become so good at using evangelical Christianity, that God almost becomes an ‘add-on’ to the story of creation and our redemption, rather than being the centre of it to His glory. So often our Christian talk slips into becoming all about ‘us’ and our actions, rather than the glory of God. Yes, it is great and very necessary to know what the I AM has done for us in Christ, and our response to it, absolutely. But even our response is not about us and our glory, but God’s glory as He works salvation in us. Let us never forget, that the I AM came to us in the person of His Son, lived among us, sacrificed himself on the cross for us, so that believing in Him, living thankful obedient lives, we can share in I AM’s eternal glory. This is why the whole cosmos is giving praise and honour and glory to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Rev 5). JZ See more

08.01.2022 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption - Eph 4:30. Christianity is not a religion of do’s and don’ts. The heart of our faith rests on the good news of God’s love to us in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, as Christians, we had better be clear about what to do and what not to do. Here is a first don’t: Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He would be with us to the close of the age, and He is by His Holy Spirit (Mat 28:20ff...). We can grieve only those with whom we have a love relationship. You can hurt your parents, spouse, children, and friends. Your daughter can make you happier than any girl in the world, but she can also cause you more grief than any girl in the world. That’s because you love her, and she loves you. You have power over each other’s hearts. The Holy Spirit is closer to us than a spouse or a child or a parent. Therefore, we can grieve Him. We can bring sorrow to the heart of God because we have a love relationship with Him. And we grieve Him when we sin. This means sinning is never just about harming ourselves, or the immediate family, or even a whole church or work family. When we sin, we are grieving the Holy Spirit and hurting our heavenly Father. King David exclaimed when confronted with his sin, Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight (Psa 51:4). This didn’t mean that David had not sinned against Uriah and his family, or even Bathsheba, but David knew that first and foremost he had sinned against God, or if you will, he grieved the Holy Spirit within him. Here is a second don’t: When convicted of your sin, don’t add to it by making excuses. King David didn’t try and justify his sin. He didn’t try to smooth it over, or half admit it or blame his circumstances. King David didn’t say to God’s prophet Nathan, It’s none of your business, this is just between Bathsheba and me. On the contrary, King David when convicted of his sin, acknowledged it and pleaded with God to purge him from his sin. And although there are serious consequences to our sin, as there was in King David’s life, God forgave him as He does us when we genuinely acknowledge, confess and repent from sin (1 John 1:5-2:2). So, sinning is much more than just breaking a rule in the book. When we sin, whether we think it is a private or public sin, it is a ‘big’ thing and should never be treated lightly. Not only did our suffering Saviour have to die for our sin and suffer the wrath of the Father, but we also grieve the Holy Spirit within us. So, before we allow sin to take hold of us, let us remember that we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit in our lives and He has come to ‘seal’ us as God’s own. By the Holy Spirit, God guides and protects us for the great future, for the day of redemption, a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor 1:22). That’s why He came to us and stays with us until we are with Him in glory. JZ. See more

07.01.2022 A new normal.... A worthwhile video to watch... Jack De Vries, CRCA Ministry Development Coach, addresses churches and church leaders how we make the most of every opportunities in times like we are having in 2020. He shares how these are times for innovation, embracing church online, for prayer, for justice, and a time to ask for help. ... https://ministryformation.com.au/me/53-2020-mf-classis-talk

05.01.2022 Don't stop praying and being a winsome Christian... Two of the most difficult teachings in Scripture for sinful man to accept is that there is a) an Almighty Creator God to whom we need to give an account (Mt 12:36), and b) that true faith in Jesus Christ is the only one way for forgiveness of sins and eternal life in glory (Jn 14:6). No true minister of God’s word can preach on these truths of Scripture, especially the latter, and his heart not filled with sorrow and compa...Continue reading

03.01.2022 Meditation It’s a sad day It’s a sad day when Christians bring the Lord’s name into disrepute. That is no truer than for those in leadership, or more particularly, those who hold an office in the Lord’s church, for they carry extra responsibility. So, whether it be a deacon, elder, minister of the gospel, or even a bishop or cardinal leading a whole denomination, if your past or present actions make the local, national or even world headlines for all the wrong reasons..., the Lord’s name is brought into disrepute. When that happens, it is a very sad day and the only one who is having a laugh is the devil and his followers. It is without a doubt that Christians are being increasingly targeted in today’s society, sometimes unfairly. Granted. But that is not an excuse or a defence to excuse poor, sinful behaviour. On the contrary, because we know that our Saviour’s name is on the line, we have more reason to remember that as Christians every deed and every word spoken is scrutinised to the nth degree by the world. The devil just loves it when the world agrees that our behaviour as Christian leaders is immoral, inexcusable and highly offensive. Scripture warns that those who seek to hold office in the Lord’s Church need to be above reproach (1 Tim 3:2). It doesn’t say we need to be perfect, for no one is, not even those who hold offices in the church. But we do need to be above reproach and that means no one should be able to accuse us of behaviour that is immoral and detestable, not just before the Lord and his people, but also before the world in general. But it is not just those in Christian leadership who need to be careful, we all do. If we wish to have a credible witness in our families, our fellowship and our communities about the love of God to us in Jesus Christ, then we need to ensure as far as it is humanly possible, that we are above reproach in all that we do and say. For instance, our love for one another must be clearly evident for Jesus said that the world will know we are his followers by the way we love one another (John 13:35). Our words need to be dipped in love before they go out of our mouths so that they build-up and not tear down (Eph 4:29). Our business practices need to be fair and above board for the Lord detests differing weights and dishonest scales (Pro 20:23). I am sure you can add to the list. In many ways, it has been a sad week for the Lord’s church in light of the headlines. The devil and his hosts have had a victory of sorts, but they will not ultimately win. In fact, they have already lost, and they are doomed to eternal destruction because the King of this universe died for our sin and rose victoriously from the dead. Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our sin and may we as Your people be a light in this dark world. May justice be served and Your kingdom advance, and may there be less sad days, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. JZ. See more

02.01.2022 Advent 4; God’s immeasurable love for ‘us’ Over recent weeks I have been watching a series called Blue Planet II, narrated by David Attenborough. This past week’s edition focused on the fish life around the Coral Reefs with the Great Barrier Reef being one of the most prominent ones. God’s creation is just magnificent, and the variety of fish and corals and underwater plant life is just incredible, mind boggling! But God’s immeasurable love in sending His most beloved... Son was not for the beauty displayed in the Great Barrier Reef. God’s love, as seen in Jesus Christ, was given first and foremost for mankind. That’s us! And who is ‘us?’ ‘Us’ are all people that live on this earth. That includes our neighbours. It includes the Muslim, or Hindu, or the Aborigine living up the street. Remember, God so loved this world! And what was so ‘beautiful’ about ‘us’ that God would send His only beloved Son? Zip! Zero! In fact, Scripture reminds us that God sent His Son to be born, live and die, for sinners, indeed, while we were still enemies of God. That act is the definition of immeasurable love. It may be conceivable that a man would lay down his life for a friend, but for his enemies, highly unlikely! But God loved ‘us’ and gave His only Son. Andrew Kuyvenhoven comments, It may be possible to give without love, but it is impossible to love without giving. Isn’t that what we also do on special occasions? We love our parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, friends and so we give. We don’t consider it a burden to give to our loved ones. We love them and so we give willingly. The recipients of our ‘giving’ know we love them when we are willing to give, even when it hurts. And the recipients of our giving usually accept the gift because they want to show their appreciation to the giver. At this time of the year, we appreciate the gifts we may receive from others, but our primary focus as Christians is not to forget the greater ‘gift’ God in his immeasurable love has given for us. This gift is given, not just for a few special people, but for all who will receive the gift. We may not have the ability to receive this gift in our own strength, but we do have the responsibility to accept this gift as our Saviour, for that is the way God has presented Him to us by His Word and Spirit. And the promise is that all who receive the gift of God’s Son by faith will not perish but will enjoy eternal life. Please pray that many will continue to enjoy and hear about God’s immeasurable love to ‘us’ this festive season. JZ.

02.01.2022 The beauty of being in God’s family (2) Have you ever heard of the three P’s? Sometimes pastors use three memorable ‘P’s’ for a message hoping that their listeners will hear and remember the main three points. There is also an understanding amongst those in the leadership of faithful churches that the three P’s stands for Preaching, Prayer and Pastoral-Care. I don’t think too many of us would deny the importance of all three when it comes to ministry and ‘running’ ...Continue reading

02.01.2022 Our Lady has fallen, but CHRIST has risen Someone sent me a text message on Tuesday morning, informing me that the Notre-Dame has fallen. No doubt most of us are aware of the fire that virtually destroyed the iconic Paris Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris. Perhaps no other building site represents France and the city of Paris like Notre-Dame. Notre-Dame has stood tall above Paris since the 1200s. It took about one hundred years to build, survived revolutions and two ...world wars. It was one of the few sites sure to make a Parisian feel good about living there. Not only was the Notre-Dame de Paris a popular tourist site in Europe with an estimated fourteen million tourists visiting every year, but it was also still used as a place of worship with about 2,000 services held there every year with baptisms, marriages, and confirmation ceremonies regular events. During our European tour in 2016, we were privileged to see many Cathedrals and we also went into the Notre-Dame. It was very impressive and the many artefacts and paintings that decorated the inside of the cathedral were just magnificent. From simply a human, non-religious perspective, I feel sad that such an iconic building has virtually been destroyed. Interestingly though, did you know that Notre-dame is French for Our Lady (the Virgin Mary)? Many years ago, and perhaps some Parisians still do so today, people would see this building and its spire and say a prayer, using Mary as the mediator to Christ and then to the Father in heaven. This fact should make us very sad. With respect to the many Parisian Roman Catholics and others the world over who are weeping over a Fallen Lady, Scripture clearly reminds us that there is only one mediator between God and man and that is the man Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven given by men by which we must be saved (Act 4:12ff). On this Easter Sunday, may we not turn our places of worship into idols or where idolatry is performed. Rather, let us focus on and rejoice in a resurrected Saviour, Jesus Christ. Please pray that people everywhere may not weep too long over a ‘fallen lady.’ Rather, pray that the Holy Spirit would cause those who weep now to see an empty cross, and be drawn to the resurrected Christ as the only Mediator, for this is what is most glorious to our heavenly Father. JZ

01.01.2022 Don’t waste too much time with Dr Google... Have you ever heard of Dr Google? I think most of us have. We go to the local doctor not feeling well and if the doctor tells us we have some illness (other than the common cold) that we have never heard of before, we go home and ask Dr Google for further information. Sometimes, when it is more serious, we might search the internet for hours to read about further explanations and possible cures or even alternative therapies and... cures. Of course, it is not wrong to seek further advice when you have been diagnosed with an illness and Dr Google is fairly reliable, but perhaps not always as reliable as we would like to claim. Nor is ignorance a virtue when it comes to our health. All three gospels record Jesus implying that the unhealthy should go and see a doctor (Mat 9:12; Mk 2:17; Lk 5:31). Indeed, Luke was regarded as a doctor (Col 4:14). So, if you are unwell, go and see a doctor for they are a gift from the Lord. Having said the above, have you ever thought that your illness may also be a gift from the Lord? When God permits illness, whether it be a cold or something more serious, He does so with a purpose. When we think about illness in this way, it helps us come to grips with it and to seek God’s purpose for it in our lives. When Job was struck down with boils (Job 2:7), he accepts it as coming from the Lord (2:10). This doesn’t mean we have to rejoice because we have been struck down with an illness, but it does mean that the illness is part of God’s plan for our lives and ultimately His glory and for our sanctification unto eternal life. The more time we spend researching on Dr Google and elsewhere about our illness and possible cures may even indicate a lack of trust in God’s purposes for us through the illness. Furthermore, the hours we spend with Dr Google takes away spending time with the Great Physician who can ultimately bring healing. Most Christians who are ill usually tell me they spend more time to reflect on God and his goodness to them when they are unwell. That is part of God’s design for nothing happens by chance. Illness is also designed by our Creator to draw us closer to Christ. The Prophet Hosea calls on God’s people to press on and know the Lord (Hos 6:3). Daniel remarks that the people who know God shall stand firm and take action (Dan 11:32). The Apostle Paul had some sort of illness to deal with throughout his ministry. He called it a ‘thorn’ in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7). Paul knew the purpose of that thorn in his flesh, namely, to keep him humble and to realise that God’s grace was sufficient, and His power was made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12: 9-10). By all means, ask Dr Google when you are ill. However, please don’t neglect the more important time of reading God’s word and prayerfully asking him to reveal His grand purposes for your life so that you can be a blessing to others, and He might be glorified, also when you are ill. JZ. See more