My sister gave me
the autobiography of a world-renowned evangelist to read while I was recuperating. It is a big, thick book each page telling the story of how God
used this man to preach the Gospel around the world. There are amazing accounts of healing and
miracles of provision. My faith was
inspired by it.
And, there was less holy response, too. I fell to comparison, wondering if the work I
do matters. That man preached the Gospel
to more people in a single night than I will in my lifetime! Pride crept up on me and made me long for the
grand gesture, the big moment. Do your
expectations of how and what God should do hide His ways from you, right where
you are?
Naaman was a
general in the Syrian army who became desperately ill with leprosy. A young
Jewish girl, a captive taken during one of Naaman’s raids in Israel, told him
about the power of God that would heal him.
“Just go to Samaria and find Elisha. He will make you well.” The general assembled a whole group of
attendants and off they went, a desperate man in search of hope and
healing.
Here’s how the
Bible tells the story. "So Naaman
with his horses and chariots arrived in style and stopped at Elisha’s door.
Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: “Go to the River
Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be
as good as new.”
Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel
saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of
God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The
Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers
in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.” He stomped off, mad
as a hornet.
But his servants caught up with him and said,
“Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t
you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’” So he did it. He
went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders
of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He
was as good as new." (2
Kings 5:9-14, The Message)
Naaman almost missed
out on God’s blessing because of HIS EXPECTATIONS. His servants wisely urged him to just do what
the man of God told him to do. In
obedience, he found his restoration.
There was grace in the ordinary!
Jesus told a story
about a master and servants entrusted with his treasure. One servant received 10 talents, one received
5, and the last just 1. The first two
were diligent and doubled the master’s treasure and both received equal
commendation! The 1 talent guy dug a
hole and hid the treasure, returning it to the master on reckoning day with no
increase. Was he commended? “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and
lazy servant!" (Matthew 25:26, NLT) "To
those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will
have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have
will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29, NLT)
On this Monday
morning, embrace God’s commission and call in the present. His greatest grace may be found in the very
ordinary tasks of life. If we waste too
much time longing for some call where we can be ‘heroic,’ we will lose sight of
His will and fail to serve faithfully so as to win His approval – “Well done, my good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you
many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!" (Matthew 25:23,
NLT)
_______________
Take My Life
Holiness, holiness,
Is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, holiness,
Is what You want from me.
Faithfulness, faithfulness,
Is what I long for.
Faithfulness is what I need.
Faithfulness, faithfulness,
Is what You want from me.
So, take my heart and form it!
Take my mind, transform it!
Take my will, conform it,
To Yours, to Yours, Oh Lord!
Scott Underwood
© 1995 Mercy /
Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
CCLI License # 810055
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