Your Daily Crossroad
Purpose Through Process
Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Syria. He was a “mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” Naaman wanted to be healed of his leprosy.
Through the words of an Israelite servant that was in the service of his wife, Naaman heard about the prophet Elisha and was told that Elisha would cleanse his leprosy.
With a letter from his king as well as his blessing, Naaman sets off for Israel to seek healing. The letter does not reveal that Naaman is looking for Elisha, it just states that he is seeking to be clean.
Naaman arrives in Israel and hands the king the letter. The king of Israel is greatly distressed, tearing his own clothes he says, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me”. (Verse 7)
Fortunately for the king, Elisha catches word of what has happened. Elisha instructs the king to send Naaman to the prophets house. Naaman expects to be healed by Elisha himself.
Imagine yourself in this situation. You’ve had a crippling disease for your entire life. You’ve finally arrived at the place where you know you can find healing! All you need is for the prophet to come speak it over you.
Your excitement builds as you anxiously await the prophets arrival.
There’s noise on the other side of Elisha’s door. Your moment to meet the man of God has come! Good health is about to be yours.
And what happens next? The prophet is a no-show! The person standing before you: the messenger of Elisha. He doesn’t bring word that the prophet will be arriving soon. No, he brings instructions.
“Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.” (Verse 10)
Naaman is angry! The Jordan is a dirty river; the waters of his own home are much cleaner than it. If all Naaman wanted was to be clean, he could have just as easily stayed home and bathed. In a rage, Naaman starts to turn away, unwilling to heed the words of the messenger.
Fortunately, Naaman’s servants spoke boldly to their master. They encouraged him to follow the messenger’s instructions, and so he did.
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (Verse 14)
Naaman had certain expectations of how this story was going to begin, continue, and end. He probably thought that it would be pretty simple: head to Israel, see the prophet, get healed, return to Syria in time for dinner.
But God’s process was quite different. Instead of sending Naaman to the prophet, God sends him to the king, who sends him to Elisha, who sends the messenger in his place, who sends instructions.
And even then, the instructions weren’t what Naaman expected.
But look at how the story still ends: with Naaman being healed. I would suppose that Naaman would have died a leper had he not been obedient to wash himself in the Jordan.
God’s purpose was brought about by God’s process. Oftentimes, God’s process looks much differently than we expect.
Despite his rage at the situation, Naaman still obeyed and was cured of his leprosy. He obeyed despite his lack of understanding.
Will you obey God and seek his purpose, even when his process is beyond your understanding? Read 2 Kings 5:1-14 today.
What a powerful devotion. I felt it had to be shared today. I pray after reading this devotion you are left with this thought, don’t reject God’s purpose just because you don’t like or understand His process.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Colossians 3:17
Judging Others
Some parents judge their children for things they are guilty of themselves. Some teachers put down students for things the students cannot change. Some children judge their parents simply for being their parents. We judge and find fault with our coworkers, our colleagues, our neighbors, or others we encounter.
No, we are not told to overlook sin in someone’s life. But before we judge, we need to take a close look at ourselves. Says Jesus, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … First take the plank out of your own eye.” And once we have done that, we may be able to see with enough love to help someone remove a speck from their eye.
Father, please keep us from judging other people. Help us to take a close look at ourselves before we make assessments. In all things, help us to act with love. In Jesus, Amen.
When I read this devotion it challenged me. I knew it had to be shared. We are all guilty of judging others in one form or another. I pray in those moments of judgement you feel the nudge in your heart from The Holy Spirit convicting you and you stop and put yourself in there place, but by The Grace of God there goes I. Act with love towards those you don’t understand, you never know the depth of their scar and remember when you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Discouragement
It feels like the world is against me, and I’m overcome with feelings of “nobody really likes me.” Sometimes I get discouraged because of my past regrets, and sometimes I get discouraged because God so clearly has not answered my prayers and cries for help, when and the way I want.
God’s Perspective
- God watches over us from his infinite perspective
- God loves us and will provide in our time of need
Even though it’s a simplistic example of God’s perspective, it is in “large” what my driving experience is in “small.” Even though we may only look at life through a rear view mirror, God has infinite perspective on our situation and concern for us.
Though we can’t see the dangers ahead, he can. Though we can’t see the trials ahead, he can. And not only can he see them, but he also prepares us for them and walks with us through those experiences.
He has set out his Word that we may see and worship him as the all powerful God he’s revealed himself as and avoid many hardships of sin and evil. Also, when we do encounter difficult times in life, he will deliver our souls from death and keep us alive in famine.
Remember, God’s watchful eye is on those who fear him. Trust in him and his infinite perspective today.
I pray this devotion blesses you as much as it blessed me today. Remember, He is always faithful, always.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 1:1-2