And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the Name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:8-14)
Namaan, the honorable captain of the host of Syria, despite his position and prestige was a leper. He sought deliverance and a servant from Israel informed him of the prophet in Israel who could deliver him from his leprosy. Namaan first went to the king who was terrified both of the appearance of Namaan to his palace with a letter from the king of Syria and Namaan’s efforts to seek healing in his land. Elisha sent word to have Namaan come to him and gave Namaan a simple command for healing. Though at first his faith was weak and his pride was strong, he repented and obeyed and was healed of the leprosy. He demonstrated his repentance and faith further by forsaking the idol worship of the Syrians.
Though the simple command seemed at first beneath Namaan, his faith won out and he dunked in the river Jordan at the word of the prophet and was healed. Namaan’s faith was confirmed by his healing and God demonstrated Himself strong on Namaan’s behalf, showing that God is God, not just in Israel but of all the earth. Elisha’s servant did not demonstrate the same faith but sought gain for the healing and ended up a leper instead. God did not heal Namaan to gain anything for Elisha or his servant but for His glory as Creator, Redeemer, and King, the Righteous God who heals and delivers those who come to Him in faith and obedience.
Sometimes what God asks of us is simple and small, yet important for He says that he who is faithful in a little will be faithful in much and he of whom much is given, much will be required. For the Christian who has put their faith in God and been born again through His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, nothing that God asks of us should be seen as too little or too small for us to do. God has asked it of us for His purposes and His ways, which are not our ways, and we are to believe His Word and trust His plan in order to bring Him glory and testify of His mighty works before the children of men. We are His people, commissioned and commanded to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach the Word at all times and in all places. We are to continue to be found faithful in the ministries, missions, and discipleship which our Commander has called us to do until He returns for His own and consummates all things unto Himself.
Until that day, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Though the simple command seemed at first beneath Namaan, his faith won out and he dunked in the river Jordan at the word of the prophet and was healed. Namaan’s faith was confirmed by his healing and God demonstrated Himself strong on Namaan’s behalf, showing that God is God, not just in Israel but of all the earth. Elisha’s servant did not demonstrate the same faith but sought gain for the healing and ended up a leper instead. God did not heal Namaan to gain anything for Elisha or his servant but for His glory as Creator, Redeemer, and King, the Righteous God who heals and delivers those who come to Him in faith and obedience.
Sometimes what God asks of us is simple and small, yet important for He says that he who is faithful in a little will be faithful in much and he of whom much is given, much will be required. For the Christian who has put their faith in God and been born again through His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, nothing that God asks of us should be seen as too little or too small for us to do. God has asked it of us for His purposes and His ways, which are not our ways, and we are to believe His Word and trust His plan in order to bring Him glory and testify of His mighty works before the children of men. We are His people, commissioned and commanded to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach the Word at all times and in all places. We are to continue to be found faithful in the ministries, missions, and discipleship which our Commander has called us to do until He returns for His own and consummates all things unto Himself.
Until that day, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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