Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 5, Lamentations 1, 1 Corinthians 14
2 Kings 5:8-14 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'? "So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman wanted an easy fix and was angry when he was told he wouldn’t get it. He wanted Elisha to come wave his hand over him and for the leprosy to instantly disappear. He became angry when he was told he would actually have to go work for his breakthrough.
2 Kings 5:8-14 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'? "So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman wanted an easy fix and was angry when he was told he wouldn’t get it. He wanted Elisha to come wave his hand over him and for the leprosy to instantly disappear. He became angry when he was told he would actually have to go work for his breakthrough.
Why is it that we walk into church and get frustrated when we don’t see immediate results? We become focused on ourselves at times thinking that the service was somehow about us getting our microwaved miracle. Some people do get radical and instant breakthroughs - and that is awesome! But the reality is most of us have to work out our struggles in the process of continual and habitual obedience. God does instantly transform situations, and I have seen it happen, but He doesn't do it every time! Sometimes He is cooking up a testimony in our lives that can only be made in a crock pot! If I have a choice between a crock pot meal and a microwaved meal, I know the slow cooked meal tastes better but sometimes I am just impatient. Are we willing to wait for something that God is creating in our life that will take time, but taste better?
What if our breakthrough lies in simply obeying what the man of God says? Elisha's words of wisdom may have not been the answer Naaman was looking for, but they still provided a solution to his issue if he was willing to give it some effort. The practical and Biblical teachings that we receive on a weekly basis may not instantly change our lives, but through daily application we will begin to see some amazing progress! A financial breakthrough may not fall from the sky or magically appear in my bank account, but through application of wise financial principles--the same results can be achieved. I have seen in my own life relationships that seemed irreconcilable become completely restored. It wasn't instantaneous, but through prayer, time and forgiveness a miracle did happen. Does it make it any less of a miracle because it took time? No! In fact, it made us appreciate the value of those miracles even more because they took time and appropriation.
I love that Naaman didn’t give up. He had a Godly servant nearby who could remind him that although it might not come instantly, the report is still a good report! Don't be discouraged, even though it might take more time and effort than you thought it would -- it is still a good report from the Lord.
Don’t give up on church or God because the change you desire isn’t coming as quick as you wanted or the way that you wanted. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! (Phil. 1:6) It may not be a microwave miracle, but through the process of your obedience and God's faithfulness, your breakthrough will certainly come!
Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller
1 comment:
That's so good Mel!! I think sometimes it takes more faith to believe for the crock-pot miracle than it does the microwave one.
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