«And said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you’ (Exodus 15:26).
When we buy a new product and we want it to function optimally, we generally turn to the owner s guide. An owner’s guide is a booklet written by the manufacturer of the product that explains the details in performing a task. It can refer to how a piece of furniture is assembled, how a computer software is installed, how a car or of a household appliance functions. Each of these manuals has the objective of optimizing and increasing the durability of the product. Most people tend to take special care in faithfully following the instructions of the manuals. If they don’t, they reduce the lifespan of the product and jeopardize the warranty that can be used in case of malfunctions.
In the same way, to care for the human body, we need to faithfully follow the instructions that God our Maker has given us to promote happiness and well-being. These instructions have been presented in different ways and include every aspect of our life. Our Creator shaped within the inspired writings specific rules that promote physical, mental and spiritual health. Anyone who wants to live wisely must study and understand the laws of how the body operates to obtain its best performance.
One group of people who stands out for following these principles in their daily life consists of Christians from Loma Linda (California, USA). This group was considered by the National Geographic Spanish magazine as one of the three healthiest and longest-living people on the planet, along with the residents of Okinawa (Japan) and Sardinia (Italy). Beyond the genes these groups have, the importance of good habits on the quality of life is undeniable which provides a lower incidence of fatal diseases and an increased rate of longevity.
Knowing and obeying the biblical instructions which protect our physical, mental and spiritual health will greatly improve our development and happiness. We can clearly see how much the Lord wishes for us to follow His commandments when He exclaims, «Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea» (Isa. 48: 18).
Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Yidith C & Alejandra Zavala