Close the Gap

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Based on “The Church—Why We Do What We Do, Part 4” by Pastor Mark Balmer;

2/27-28/10, Message #MB409; Daily Devotional #2 - “Close the Gap”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1) So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Aana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the water of Israel?” So he turned and went off in a rage. (2 Kings 5:9-12)

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Naaman knew the Lord could heal him, or he wouldn’t have gone to Elisha’s house. And yet when Elisha’s messenger told Naaman what to do, he went off in rage. Naaman had some huge gaps between what he believed and what he practiced. It’s easy for us to sit back and read this story about a man who ignored God. It’s so easy for us to criticize and judge isn’t it? And yet, we ourselves are so much like this man at times. How many times have we asked God for a miracle, expecting God to do amazing things, and when something happened we asked God, “Is that it? That’s all that has to happen in order for my prayers to be answered?” Naaman had it all planned out, didn’t he? In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Naaman arrived with preconceived ideas about God and his expectations of what and how God was going to heal his leprosy. Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? (Isaiah 40:13) If it wasn’t for Naaman’s maidservant, I think he would have died angry and bitter at God for his leprosy. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed!” (2 Kings 5:13) Now at this point Naaman had a choice. Start to close the gap or continue in rage. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:14) Naaman decided to make the right choice and close the gap. Now let’s stop for a moment and think about the maidservant. Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. (2 Kings 5:2) By all means she could have been angry at God and rejoiced that her captor was stricken with a deadly disease, but instead she was willing and open to hear from God (2 Kings 5:3). In light of all that happened to her, she had potential to do something great in the kingdom of God. She was going about her day when she saw an opportunity for God to shine. All she had to do was obey. When she told Naaman’s wife of the prophet in Samaria, she placed herself on the spot. Disaster could have come to her if what she proclaimed did not happen, but that did not stop her boldness. In the end who received the glory? Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Do you have any gaps? Who do you most resemble today, the doubting Naaman who is still learning to close those gaps or the maidservant who takes bold steps for her God? Pastor Mark challenged us this week to pray the following with boldness. Take time today to review and pray about the following: God, we want to impact our world, so empower us, stretch us, and use us.

How?