MONDAY, September 19

2 Kings 5:1-19. 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’?”

The Old Testament story of Naaman is familiar to most Bible readers. Naaman was a leper who came to God’s prophet Elisha, hoping to be cured. Elisha told him to dip seven times in the River Jordan. Because he was an important man in his own country, Naaman was insulted by these simple instructions delivered to him by Elisha’s servant, and he almost went home angry—and still a leper. His servant managed to get him to see his priorities and his own egotistical, stupid behavior. The story has a happy ending and a lesson for all of us.

A frequent question for each one of us is this: Do I want to be whole or do I want my opinion to be the only right one? Do I want to be better or to win?

We can have many reasons for nursing our opinions, hurts, wounds, angers, and ideas and remain miserable all the while.

God has shown us how to live full lives by loving, forgiving, and serving. Sometimes this is difficult. It is still the way to life.

PRAY for the Diocese of Southeastern Mexico (Mexico)

Ps 80 * 77, [79]; 1 Corinthians 4:8-21; Matthew 5:21-26

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lessons

Sep 19, 2011 at 7:52 am

Written by cleansed,

The author expresses a good lesson; however, not one which is reflected in the passage cited. This passage is about simple obedience in faith. It took a servant of Naaman to point out to his master the simpleness of Elisha's simple treatment plan. Upon hearing this servant, Naaman realized the truth and did as Elisha instructed and was cleansed. Naaman had preconceived notions of how a man of God could cleanse him. In fact, Naaman and his king (of Syria) understood that it was the king of Israel who would do the healing which is not what the servant girl had even said. Read carefully every word of the Holy Bible and read it in whole not in parts.

Do I want to be whole or do I want my opinion to be the only right one?

Sep 19, 2011 at 7:58 am

Written by Sam,

Powerful words! They can be applied to so many (perhaps all) aspects of our lives: religious and secular. Ironically, they often apply even when we ARE right! Holding uncompromisingly to one's rightness can so often be selfish in the extreme. Paul's message to the Romans was similar: "All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble" and "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves". Loving one another calls for us to be willing to cede our rightness to benefit the greater good, and Christ's life and death offer the best example of that lesson!

I love what Sam wrote!

Sep 19, 2011 at 8:38 am

Written by Cat,

Many times in my life, I chose right over 'love' in regards to people in my family. God has given me the grace - though some uncomfortable situations - to see the arrogance of my ways. Now, I'm being restored and totally welcomed by those I hurt. GOD is so very GOOD and GRACIOUS.

Sage advice

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:09 am

Written by Mo Ped,

As a married man, I have come to understand the wisdom of the author's question - "do I want to be better or to win?" It is better to be humble and realize that others can be right too and not just hardheaded old me. If more people (and countries) in the world understood that, we would be a more peaceful and just planet.

...

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:30 am

Written by Greg,

"We can have many reasons for nursing our opinions, hurts, wounds, angers, and ideas and remain miserable all the while."

I have often been angry with good cause. I have been hurt over the right reasons. I have wounds that I did not deserve. Nevertheless, I have never been blessed by nursing these things. Only by letting Christ bear the insults, the wounds, the injustice, do I find peace, and the ability to understand, to console, and to love.

The way to life. ..

Sep 19, 2011 at 10:54 am

Written by Angelita Cruz,

God has shown us how to live full lives by loving, forgiving and serving. It is still the way to life.

...

Sep 19, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Written by Andrea,

Cleansed, I think you need to take your own advice and read the scripture carefully. The servant girl tells Naaman there is a prophet in Israel, not that the king is a prophet. Naaman's king makes that assumption, and Naaman acts on it. The poor king of Israel is distraught because he knows he can't heal him and fears a war. Elijah tells the king to send Naaman to him, which he does, but then he doesn't come out of his house, but rather sends servant to tell Naaman what to do. The next words are: "Naaman became angry and went away saying, 'I thought that for me he would surely come out...'" Sounds to me a lot like Naaman thinking he knew best how God should work through the prophet...

oops

Sep 19, 2011 at 12:25 pm

Written by Andrea,

And I should take my own advice, because of course it is Elisha, not Elijah, who heals Naaman!

Grace is better than fairness and mercy is better than justice.

Sep 19, 2011 at 9:41 pm

Written by Captain,

The author is spot on. God laughs at my argument and loves me still the same as he uses my old wounds to help keep me in check to His finish line.

To Andrea

Sep 20, 2011 at 8:00 am

Written by cleansed,

Andrea: Was I giving advice? Did I say that the king was a prophet?

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