Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 25, 2022
Read 2 Kings 5:1-14
1 Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease. 2 Now Aramean raiding parties had gone out and captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could come before the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his skin disease.” 4 So Naaman went and told his master what the young girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Then Aram’s king said, “Go ahead. I will send a letter to Israel’s king.” So Naaman left. He took along ten kikkars of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to Israel’s king. It read, “Along with this letter I’m sending you my servant Naaman so you can cure him of his skin disease.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes. He said, “What? Am I God to hand out death and life? But this king writes me, asking me to cure someone of his skin disease! You must realize that he wants to start a fight with me.” 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that Israel’s king had ripped his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why did you rip your clothes? Let the man come to me. Then he’ll know that there’s a prophet in Israel.” 9 Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean.” 11 But Naaman went away in anger. He said, “I thought for sure that he’d come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the bad spot, and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t the rivers in Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all Israel’s waters? Couldn’t I wash in them and get clean?” So he turned away and proceeded to leave in anger. 13 Naaman’s servants came up to him and spoke to him: “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said to you was, ‘Wash and become clean.’” 14 So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he became clean.
Good morning! It is a beautiful day to thank God!
Most of us have had a time when we were struggling with something. We go out and seek answers to our problem. Some of the solutions that are offered are long and complicated, while others seem ridiculous. There is usually one solution that is so simple that we think that it can’t possibly be the answer because even a child could do this. Hmmm!
For all of the years represented by the Old Testament, God’s children worked to follow all of the laws that were inspired by God, but interpreted and written by the Jewish leaders. I’m sure that many of these men were good people who were working to make sure they got things just right so that all could find their way to God. Unfortunately, some of these leaders began to enjoy the power that comes with dictating to others and their lust for more power led to corruption. This corruption created two classes of people: those who have and those who have not.
As time moves forward, the system becomes so corrupt that only through sending Jesus to carry the burden of all our sins could fix things. Jesus came with a simple message: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself. For the have nots, this was a message of redemption as they pulled themselves up from the mud in which they had been trodden.
For those in power, they couldn’t grasp that God’s laws would be so simple. What about the thousands of laws that they were in charge of enforcing? What would happen to their power and their ability to laud themselves over others? Christ came and was trying to turn their world upside down as he called all to serve God by caring for those who could not take care of themselves.
The message of God as shared by Christ was too simple then and continues to be too simple now. The path to God can’t possibly be that obvious. Naaman struggled with what Elisha asked him to do because it was too simple. There was no great show to prove God’s power. Loving God and loving others does not resonate well with those who crave power and wealth. To humble yourself before God is hard for those who have tasted earthly power. We are called to give up these earthly treasures in exchange for a crown in eternity.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. It is so simple, but it is hard. Loving You and Loving our neighbors requires us to put others before ourselves. Help us in our human frailty to give ourselves to You. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: With God’s help, ordinary efforts can lead to miraculous outcomes.
Believe and Be Healed! Pastor Liz
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