Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. The Lord had helped him and his troops defeat their enemies, so the king of Syria respected Naaman very much. Naaman was a brave soldier, but he had leprosy.
2 One day while the Syrian troops were raiding Israel, they captured a girl, and she became a servant of Naaman’s wife. 3 Some time later the girl said, “If your husband Naaman would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy.”
4 When Naaman told the king what the girl had said, 5 the king replied, “Go ahead! I will give you a letter to take to the king of Israel.”
Naaman left and took along seven hundred fifty pounds of silver, one hundred fifty pounds of gold, and ten new outfits. 6 He also carried the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy?”
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in fear and shouted, “That Syrian king believes I can cure this man of leprosy! Does he think I’m God with power over life and death? He must be trying to pick a fight with me.”
8 As soon as Elisha the prophet heard what had happened, he sent the Israelite king this message: “Why are you so afraid? Send the man to me, so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”
9 Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent someone outside to say to him, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then you’ll be completely cured.”
11 But Naaman stormed off, grumbling, “Why couldn’t he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the Lord his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. 12 What about the Abana River or the Pharpar River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured.”
13 His servants went over to him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don’t you do what he said? Go wash and be cured.”
14 Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. Right away, he was cured, and his skin became as smooth as a child’s. (2 Kings 5)
If he'd told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.
Yup, that thought resonates with me. If God had asked me to do something difficult, I'd do it; it's easy to obey me when He asks me to uproot and move to Africa or serve in some leadership position, easy to follow Him in the big stuff. So why do I struggle to obey him in the little things? Why do I question His leading in the day to day? Why don't I seek His will in my everyday choices?
Papa, forgive me for looking to You only for the next grand adventure. Forgive me for minimizing the importance of today. Forgive me for not seeking You in my daily choices, for ignoring Your voice in small decisions. LORD, because You are my Rock and my Salvation, lead and guide me for Your name sake. Lead me in the small things of today, Papa. Where You lead, I will follow.
Yesterday I attended a Good Friday service, which like most Good Friday services, had a somber feel as we reflected on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Further, the pastor described some of the things that God has redeemed us from through Christ: sin, fear, shame, selfishness. As he went through the list, I stood amazed by all the Christ has saved me from.