“The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.” But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So, you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!” (2 Kings 5:1-14 NLT)
The length of this Sunday morning meditation may seem too long, but knowing if God sends a word, it really is never too long. Therefore, read through it and discover many things that are revealed in this text. I’ll keep my words brief by just sharing one piece of advice, one thing, found in the passage. You can add it to the list of lessons you discover as your go through the passage. Here is my one finding I felt worth sharing. When you enter into the house this morning and you are blessed with the word of God, just respond to it as the Lord intends for you to respond to the message sent by His specific messenger. Respond in obedience. It may not have the flair you want! What you got It might not have been given to you in the fashionable presentation that you prefer! It may fall on your critical ears. The style of the messenger may not be perfect as it relates to oratorical skills. Nevertheless, respond to the sent word in obedience. Now finish getting ready and enter the Lord’s house and get blessed by the word that, as they say, “has your name all on it!’’ Be blessed!
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.” (Matthew 11:15 Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King