The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day six)

“Send him to me so he may know there is a prophet in Israel.”- Elisha

Naaman’s need was great; he needed healing, but not the kind he expected. Elisha knew though; he was interested in far more than healing his skin, he wanted Naaman to “know there is a prophet in Israel.” In short, he wanted to put the fear of God in Naaman, that there is no god like our God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…and faith. Naaman left with both.

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day five) 

The  encouragement and testimony of a Jewish slave girl were a catalyst for the events in 2 Kings 5.  She gave testimony of what she believed and pointed others to God (thru His prophet).  Her words were humble, confident, and offered hope.

Do we encourage others with this same attitude and approach?  We can and should regularly share our experience with God (His goodness and faithfulness to us) with those around us.  We can and should share what we believe about the Living God. Our story and our faith will offer encouragement, hope, and “life”to those around us each and every day.

“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” 1 Peter 3:15

“He then answered,  “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25 

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day four) 

It is a common belief…even when we don’t recognize that we are doing it.  If we work hard enough and our good works outweigh the bad, we will have redemption.  It is known as ‘salvation by works.’  This belief may be common, but it is misguided and false.  We cannot be saved by anything we can do.

Naaman just needed to know what steps he needed to take.  Being a great warrior, he knew he would have to work hard for his cure (redemption).  When the only thing he was asked to do was to wash in the muddy Jordan River, he thought he had been had.  He’d come all this way only to discover he had been deceived.  His wise and loving servants persuaded him to simply act in faith and he was healed.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9.

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day three) 

Is this the time to take money?

Three people lose it, one keeps his mind steady.  King Joram sees disaster looming should he fail to reverse the illness of his oppressor’s top general, now in his care.  That general, Naaman, livid with rage at the Israelites’ lack of respectful protocol, dismisses the entire nation as inferior.  Gehazi, himself driven by ethnic disdain and greedy to exploit Aram’s wealth, manipulates and deceives Naaman, then lies about it.  Each of these people sees a moment–and hope–drawing to a close: Joram’s luck has run out; Naaman’s sickness has doomed him to worthless backwaters; Gehazi desperately grasps at the security of riches to outrun poverty’s reach.  In the middle of these occurrences stands Elisha, who can see reality: With God, each circumstance is not an end but, a beginning.  It’s not doom, but dawn.

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day two)  But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ vs. 11

Naaman was a leper. How much worse could it get? His affliction would have been a constant aggravation a source of revulsion from others. Even so, when offered a cure Naaman is displeased with the method of miracle. He had it in his head that Elisha would stand over his head and utter the magic words. It never occurred to him that he had no idea how the cure would come, Naaman was sure he knew how the whole thing would play out.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? And yet…how often do we miss the forest for the trees? We get an idea in our heads and hold on so tightly that we simply cannot, or will not open our minds to the best way forward. What gave Naaman the idea that he knew how to cure leprosy? Why wouldn’t he be open to any remedy offered to him? Why aren’t we? This is surely one of this times where we should let go of preconceptions about God and his sovereignty, and allow his Spirit to do the work in our lives.

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day one)

“Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”–Acts 16:31.

“Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”–Genesis 15:6

“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored.”–2 Kings 5:10

If we are honest, sometimes we miss God because we overcomplicate the path.  Like Naaman in 2 Kings 5, we expect something hard, something that requires much effort. (See his protest in v 11.) But the seed and center of salvation is always simple faith.  Obedience that rises from it.  We are invited by the Spirit to a new certainty that–that God is good and worthy to be trusted.  Nothing hard or complicated.  Childlike and pure.  Believe Him (rather than yourself) you will be saved.

“His word shall not fail you–He promised.  Believe Him and all will be well.”–Helen Lemmel.  Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.

But sometimes people miss salvation because it seems too easy.

Re:Verse reading–Ruth 2:1-12, 17-23; 4:1-14 (day seven)

Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. Ruth 1:3-5

This story is stuck with the death of three men.  With no man left in the household ancient readers would have assumed this story does not end well for Naomi.  The most likely scenario is for Naomi and Ruth to become beggars, hoping for the aid of a distant relative.  Practically, Naomi’s story is drifting into hopelessness.

However, those that know the LORD are never hopeless.  While the world looking in assumed Naomi would become a drifter, the LORD knew she had her most meaningful days ahead of her.  Life was not over, by God’s grace it was just about to get good.  Naomi’s next faithful steps would set her up as royalty.  God provided and brought her a grandson, a grandson that would be the great grandfather of King David, who would be the line of our King of Kings Jesus Christ.  The world assumed Naomi would drift into meaninglessness, but God knew she was royalty all along.

Re:Verse reading–Ruth 2:1-12, 17-23; 4:1-14 (day five) 

So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied. 

Ruth’s perspective was to work faithfully in the midst of her current circumstances. Ruth’s assignment was to serve and minister to Naomi. Not a grand and lofty venture, but a calling Ruth felt was given to her. Where has God placed you in this season of life?  Has He called you to work and minister?  Will you serve Him and others with passion and joy?  That was Ruth’s perspective. It was pleasing to the Lord and to others

For the Christian there is always a connection between the ordinary events of life and the stupendous work of God in history. Everything we do in obedience to God, no matter how small, is significant. It is part of a cosmic mosaic which God is painting to display the greatness of His power and wisdom. – John Piper

Re:Verse reading–Ruth 2:1-12, 17-23; 4:1-14 (day four)

Naomi had a difficult run of circumstances.  She had lost her home, her husband, two sons and her livelihood.  When she returned to Bethlehem, she was embittered.  Even though she trusted God, she was focused on her circumstances rather than Him.  Naomi judged God’s love for her by her circumstances rather than judging her circumstances by God’s love for her.  God’s sovereignty was never demonstrated better than His use of Boaz as the kinsman/redeemer for the family lineage of His promised Messiah.  God’s vast love was being demonstrated and Naomi missed the bigger picture.

Has life brought difficult and maybe unbearable circumstances for you?  Could it be that God is seeking to bring His love and redemption to bear in your life?  Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem with no idea what the future held for them.  They had no clue of the eternal significance of their circumstances.  When it is most difficult, we need to trust in God’s sovereign plan.