Have you ever wanted to be a doctor or a nurse? Wanted to wipe away a tear and make the pain go away with a kiss? Well, now you can, without even going to medical school! How? By taking up the Great Commission of the Doctor in Chief, Jesus Christ.

Jesus' specific order to us is: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:19-20)

First, let us study the experience our head Doctor had with his patients, so we can learn from the example he has set for us.

Throughout Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, he surrounded himself with the sickly, going to their houses and dining with them. His relationship with the sick brought words of distaste from the self-righteous, who thought they were in top shape when, in fact, they were dying. In reply to their scoff, Jesus said, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

Jesus was commissioned by God to preach repentance so those who were spiritually ill could receive the gift of salvation through Christ. Those who had not repented of their unhealthy ways were then saved through his teaching and care.

Through his talk and walk, Jesus set an example to all his apprenticed doctors: that we, as Christians, should go where the sick are, in order to heal them. Instead of avoiding the sickly, we must embrace them and teach them what Jesus taught us.

However, many Christians have not taken up Jesus' Great Commission. We have avoided the sick rather than going to them. We have hated the ill instead of lovingly rebuking them and bringing them back to God.

Jesus relationship with the ill teaches us another important principle: he set good examples for his patients to follow, instead of catching their illnesses himself.

Therefore, our responsibilities as Christians is to heal the sick using God's treatments, not to catch their disease. If you help a thief, you don't help him to steal, nor become a thief yourself. Instead, you would help him stop stealing.

If we see a friend falling into distress, taking a route opposite of God's path, we must speedily go after him to bring him back onto the right road. Why speedily? Because we all know that when a fever gets too high, when you experience trouble breathing, medical emergency must be sought; otherwise, it might be too late.

So speedily, we must help our friend. We do this by identifying their wrong action, rebuking them for their decision, and correcting them using God's Word.

No one enjoys taking medicine. But when the bitter tastes in your mouth subsides and is soon replaced with soothing effects in your body, you will forget about the past pain and rejoice in your new health. Your patients may struggle with you; they may turn their mouth from the spoonful of medicine in your hand. But do not let their initial refusal discourage you. Instead, encourage them in accepting your medicine, and remind them of the positive outcome. Ask them, "Do you want to remain sick or be healthy?"

Most will tell you, "I want to be healthy!" Then have them accept your spoonful of medicine. Soon, both of you will share the joy of a renewed health.

However, if your patient refuses to listen to your counsel, no matter how many times you tried, move on to your next patient. Jesus told us to do so. Moving on allows us to care for a friend who will benefit from our care. We have little time to waste, for Jesus will soon come, to reward the doctors who treated his patients—for we are just stewards of his patients—and to take up the patients under his care to time indefinite.

But moving on does not mean abandoning those who refused our care. We should stand by and be on call at all times. If they call out to us, we should go straight to their side, and help them with what they need. A doctor shouldn't refuse to treat a patient just because they had refused treatment before. We should be on call 24/7, not just working from nine to five on business days.

Life's Manual to Great Health

How do we care for the sick? To properly care for the ill, we first need to read God's manual on good health, and that is the Bible, the book God wrote to help us maintain good health. And in order to care for others, we must care for our own selves first. Unhealthy doctors won't have the strength to properly care for their patients, don't you agree?

The Bible is filled with medicinal wisdom, and provides cures for all types of diseases. The below are just some of its instructions to staying fit, as well as warnings of poisons to avoid:

The two magical ingredients to any cure:

1) Love Jehovah God Almighty

2) Love others as you love yourself

Our head Doctor Jesus Christ said this about these two ingredients: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31, American Standard Version)

Therefore, all remedies are based on these two ingredients, which will fix any and all known diseases, including "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." (Galatians 5:19-21, King James Version)

Jehovah, who is the Boss and Supervisor of our head Doctor, leaves us some words to live by, so it is definitely wise to heed His words. Here is what He told us: "I am Jehovah thy God...Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:2-6, ASV)

He further said: "Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7)

Our Heavenly Father, who is the Parent of all parents, instructs us to: "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12)

"Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13)

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)

"Thou shalt not steal." (Exodus 20:15)

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17)

Absolutely, we will be very healthy when we obey the Boss!

Here are a few words from our fellow doctors, who had been faithful unto their deaths, to help us stay fit:

From apostle Paul: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith." (Galatians 6:7-10)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

From apostle Peter: "...add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-11, KJV)

Warnings of things that will make us unhealthy and that will ultimately lead us to death:

From apostle Paul: "...know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18)

From Jehovah Himself: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8, KJV)

The second death is eternal destruction. Those doctors who do not watch over their patients, but instead let them die, will be met with their own deaths for eternity.

Reward for Faithful Doctors

To all the faithful doctors who treat their patients with tender love and care, this is what Jehovah promises: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:7, KJV)

All faithful doctors will inherit the Kingdom of God, where love, peace, and happiness will reign for all eternity.

The tabernacle of God will be with men, and He "shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4, ASV)

You've always wanted to be a doctor, haven't you? Now, this is your chance to show your love, care, and concern to others!

And this is the best doctor position you'll ever be in, for the fruit of your love will last forever, not merely until retirement!

Remember Jesus' specific order to us: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:19-20)

So Go! We have instructions from the Bible to guide us all the way, and our head Doctor will always lead us. Start caring now...start with your family, friends, and your next-door neighbor.

If you need some guidance, have questions about the Bible, please do not hesitate to e-mail me via www.shirleycheng.com I'll be more than glad to best assist you, as we are all in this together. Yes, I have taken up Jesus' Great Commission.

For answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the Bible, visit the "Bible FAQs" section on www.shirleycheng.com There, you can learn about the salvation, the Gospel, Jesus' teachings, the Kingdom of God, our eternal destiny, resurrection of all the dead, and much, much more.

About the Author:

Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author (with 21 book awards, including nine Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Awards), motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, poet, author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah? God Almighty's Infinite Love & Wisdom to Propel You to Greatness"), contributor to nineteen, and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. Visit www.shirleycheng.com for more inspiration.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.

(This article was written in response to the question submitted by Lisa Rudy, who asked, "The Gospels describe a Jesus who was quite the radical. He broke all kinds of taboos, touching lepers and teaching women, and so forth. Why, then, when Christians "follow the teachings of Christ" do they reject so many outliers, turning away gays, Muslims, etc.? The short answer to Lisa's question is: because Christians aren't really following Jesus' example.)