From our mind to our tongue, our eyes to our stomach, our hands to our feet…sin is inherently linked to different parts of the physical body. That’s why God wants us to surrender our whole selves to Him. And when we give over the parts of us that cause us to struggle, He can heal the pain that those sins cause in our lives.

If you’ve ever fought God when He’s pursued you or called you to Himself, then you know what it feels like to have spiritual “bloody knuckles”. But through Christ, we’re provided a balm of healing for our soul. He’s the Savior of the world, and in Him, we find full and complete healing — if only we’re willing to accept it.

We live in a broken world, and everybody’s battle scars look different. But whether they’re physical, emotional, or spiritual wounds, they all have one thing in common: the need for someone with compassion to help clean them up, no matter how messy the process.

We can never hear this message too many times: you and I can’t fix broken people! But we can lead them to the only One who can. The devil’s whole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. It’s our job as Christians to look out for “wreckers” who are vulnerable to his attacks and in need of healing from their brokenness, and bring them to the feet of the Father so He can do the fixing.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Let go of the past before you become part of it”? We’ve all had defining moments in life that shape us, change us, and all too often, wound us. It’s easy to carry the weight of that hurt with us into the rest of our lives — but God delights in taking those painful experiences and turning them into beautiful tools to be used for His glory, if only we allow Him to help us heal and move forward in freedom.

The Bloody Knuckles hand ointment label says “Formulated to repair the hands of fighters”. Do you have “spiritual bloody knuckles” from fighting with God, and if so, what’s the healing ointment that’ll balm your bloody knuckles, and heal your pain? THAT’S the Gift of Jesus, the Balm of Gilead, at Christmas.

Since the beginning of time, both the devil’s tricks and our own sin have remained virtually the same. The tactics and methods might look different from generation to generation, but sickness is sickness, and sometimes it seems easier for us to hold on to our illness than to give it up and be made well. Jesus offers us healing — all we have to do is accept it.

The bad news: Because of sin, we’re all broken. The good news: Because of Jesus, we can all be healed from our brokenness. God longs to repair our broken hearts because He loves us, and when we repent, He heals our scars and gives us a fresh start.