Focus
Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.
Read
2 Kings 5:1-14 (NRSV)
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.”
He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”
But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 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?” He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
Reflect
Like Naaman, have you ever been mad at God? Have you ever been so dissatisfied with how something turned out that you were convinced that God had it all wrong? Have you ever thought that this is not the way things are supposed to be? I certainly have experienced things that have made me question what God is trying to communicate to me and what God’s plan is for me. We are often tempted to think we have it all figured out, which is devastating when things don’t go our way. Such times may make us question everything.
Despite my questioning, I have had a chance to see at God work through a group called Room in the Inn—Memphis. Being part of something bigger than myself has renewed my spirit and assured me that God is not done with me yet.
Room in the Inn—Memphis is a network of churches in the Memphis area that open their doors to provide emergency shelter to guests experiencing homelessness in the brutal winter months. It has grown from just one small congregation opening its doors to almost 40 participating congregations just a few short years later. This growth did not happen because those in leadership saw the need and demanded that their congregations participate. It happened through a process of careful discernment, prayer, and a willingness to take risks based on faith. It happened through relationships with other people of faith and those in the community seeking to make a difference. I have been amazed at this process.
As spaces are created in my region were people can thrive, I find hope in knowing that listening and following is a pretty good path forward. I don’t have to have everything figured out because God has a plan and is in control.
Pray
We admit to you, Jesus, that far too often we want things our way and do not seek you. We pray that you will do a new thing in us and through us and that we will be receptive to your Spirit. Amen.
Go with God.
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