It was just past 5:00 PM when “Suzanne” – a secretary at a nearby New York City office building – had just left work. On her way to the bus stop, she had to cross the intersection of Fifth Avenue & 57th Street. Having taken no more than ten steps past the intersection, she heard the terrifying loud sound of screeching of tires, and the horrendous sounds of a dull thud and groans that followed.
Fearing what may have just happened, Suzanne quickly turned around to see a man had just been struck by a taxicab and was lying on the pavement. She moved back to the intersection to see all that had just happened. As she took a closer look, she saw this man had a compound fracture to his left leg. She also took note he was bleeding terribly, and he appeared to have a fractured skull.
A few days later, this young lady told her friends about this dreadful accident. She enthusiastically told how she had the opportunity to apply knowledge she had recently acquired in her First-Aid class. “Girls,” she began, “that detailed training I had was so helpful in such a time. I’m so thankful I took that class.”
“When I saw that poor man lying on the street and bleeding so profusely, I knew exactly what I must do. Without hesitation, I sat down on the curb and quickly put my head down between my knees. I did so to keep from fainting, and girls, it really worked.”
The First-Aid you might need some day may be the kind where actual professional medical treatment is necessary, rather than a nearly fainting bystander finding his or her own solution to the situation. If I am ever injured or gravely ill, it is my hope that a bunch of people won’t be standing around debating my situation. The answer is simple. Call 911.
I have had my present wallet for many years now, but the last several wallets I bought, I always took note of a blank identification card inside. On such a card, space was provided for me to write my name and address, along with family names for police to contact in case I ever needed medical attention.
But in an effort to reduce the time in one seeking help for me, and to cut out any “middle man” as a contact, I completed MY identification card with just one word for the police to contact. In rather large letters, I simply printed across the card the word “HOSPITAL.” In other words, get me there quick!
Speaking of medical emergencies, I always enjoyed watching the old 1970s TV show “EMERGENCY,” and I still do so in reruns today. It has always baffled to me understand just how Firemen Roy DeSoto and John Gage – paramedics with Los Angeles Fire Department Station 51 – can easily follow all the medical instructions given by Doctors Kelly Brackett or Joe Early from Rampart Hospital. The paramedics take the long verbal instructions, and then follow through with their work most proficiently. It’s amazing HOW they can remember all the instructions and doses to treat the injured.
It’s a good thing I never became a paramedic, for I would need to write down all the detailed medical instructions radioed back before administering aid. However, there’s no time for writing things down in any emergency. The paramedics must take immediate action.
While we look to genuine caring people at such a critical time, there is One who is always caring and ready to come to your aid when you call upon His name, and He knows EXACTLY what to do. Gospel songwriters, Vep Ellis & Oran White, wrote a fabulous song in 1949 that speaks of God’s love and care for His children.
This song says in part, “Oft I’m tossed and driven as t’ward Heaven’s shore I sail, Waves so boist’rous try my prayers; Yet this consolation triumphs o’er the roughest gale, Just to know my Savior cares.” The chorus then reminds us, “Just to know He cares, just to know He cares, Gives me peace beyond compare, I am not discouraged with this earthly load I bear, Just to know my Savior cares.” A wonderful song!
But in 1939, ten years prior, songwriters J. M. Henson & Byron L. Whitworth penned a great song found in “the old Red back book” Church Hymnal and titled, “MY LORD WILL CARE FOR ME.” The songwriters begin this song – found on page 118 in this hymnal – by telling, “I have assurance sweet, a solace most complete, And I go onward singing His praise; My Lord is at my side as my unfailing guide, And He will keep me all of my days.”
And what an “unfailing guide” is He, if we are ever true to Him! One cannot afford to backslide and return to sin. But to those who are faithfully serving Christ, He will be there for you.
The second verse of this featured song then tells more of Christ, by adding: “He is the soul’s best friend and will be to the end, And on Him I can ever rely; So day by day I sing, and to His promise cling, My ev’ry need this Friend will supply.”
The songwriters then share the third verse to read: “Each day He dearer grows, His love He freely shows, And helps me safely travel the road; Some morning I shall see this friend who shelters me, And rest in that eternal abode.”
Without a doubt, you can trust the One who said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, 19).
When faced with everyday problems or some spiritual dilemma, you can do one of three things. You can do nothing at all, while ‘hoping’ your hurts and problems will just go away. You might also concoct your own ‘home remedy’ and trust that to work. OR, you as a faithful Christian can go to God in prayer, and by faith realize He is all you need for THE Answer to all things that trouble your weary soul.
Jesus often addressed crowds of people, but He also ministered to individuals. In those cases of speaking to individuals, He had a one-person audience, and that shows He cares for YOU. He never thought of one as being worthless, but was ready to meet their every need.
Consider just two of His many one-person audiences, and how these times of personal contact brought new vision and life to many. For one, Nicodemus recognized Him as a teacher come from God. He was instructed concerning the new birth and a new way of life.
Then at Jericho, Jesus called up to an unpopular publican who had climbed a sycamore tree to see Him. The words of Jesus caused Zacchaeus to come down immediately, confessing his sins as he came. Salvation and joy filled his heart as Christ went home with him that day.
In addition to salvation, Jesus also cares for the sick. In just one example, were reminded of the lady who had been sick for many years, and how she came to Christ in faith. She had such faith, “…she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” (Matthew 9:21).
Although in part of a great crowd, Jesus made another one-person audience as He turned to speak to the woman. He looked directly at this woman of faith and said, “…Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Matthew 9:22).
Does Jesus care for you? According to God’s Word, you’ll find you can cast all your cares upon Him, for “He careth for YOU” (1 Peter 5:7). Then in Psalm 46:1, you’ll also read our “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
When turning to “God’s First-Aid Kit” (the Bible), you’ll see you can instantly apply Psalm 23 and know the Good Shepherd “maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters. He RESTORETH my soul…”
When loneliness or fear finds you, apply Psalm 91 from “God’s First-Aid Kit.” Here, you can be assured He will “give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (verse 11). If any ‘thorn in the flesh’ should happen to afflict (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9), you can rely on God’s grace to know He said, “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (verse 9). If temptation of the world should ever daze you, you’ll find in God’s First-Aid Kit “the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly…” (2 Peter 2:9a).
Knowing of God’s great love and concern for His faithful, it’s no wonder Henson and Whitworth wrote the chorus of this month’s song to read, “He tells me that He’ll care for me, No matter what may come along, He gives me grace so rich and free, Within my heart He keeps a song; His promise sweet still cheers me on, And safe with Him my soul will be, My sinful days are ever gone, My blessed Lord will care for me.”
There’s never need to worry, for OUR Great Physician knows exactly how to administer proper treatment for everyone, and in every situation. We know OUR “…God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary…” (Isaiah 40:28).
One interesting note of this verse is this: Our God won’t ever feel faint when He sees us hurting, like the New York secretary felt upon seeing the injured man lying on the pavement. When attending to our physical pain or spiritual injuries, our Great Physician won’t shuffle around the room like a sleepy-eyed night-duty emergency room doctor, because He is NEVER weary. And perhaps most comforting of all, our Lord will never lower His head between His knees – because He will NEVER faint.
Whatever our situation or great concern, “MY LORD WILL CARE FOR ME” –– and for YOU!
–– Bill
