Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

SATURDAY JULY 18


MY WAY

READ:
2 kings 5:15
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Now I know that
there is no God in
all the earth,
except in Israel.
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Two small boys were playing a complicated game with sticks and string. After a few minutes the older boy turned to his friend and said crossly, "You're not doing it properly. This is my game, and we play it my way. You can't play anymore!" The desire to have things our own way starts young!

Naaman was a person who was accustomed to having things his way. He was commander of the army of the king of Syria. But Naaman also had an incurable disease. One day his wife's servant girl, who had been captured from the land of Israel, suggested that he seek healing from Elisha, the prophet of God. Naaman was desperate enough to do this, but he wanted the prophet to come to him. He expected to be treated with great ceremony and respect. So when Elisha simply sent a message that he should bathe seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman was furious! He refused (2 Kings 5:10-12). Only when he finally humbled himself and did it God's way was he cured (vv. 13-14).

we've probably all had times when we've said "I'll do it my way" to God. But His way is always the best way. So let's ask God to give us humble hearts that willingly choose His way, not our own. ____Marion Stroud

**Father, forgive me for my pride and for so often thinking I know best.
Give me a humble heart that is willing to
follow Your way in everything.
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Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self. ___Charles Spurgeon

************************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Kings 5:1-15***************************
1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of
Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his
master,...but a leper.

2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had
brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She
waited on Naaman's wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, "If
only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For
he would heal him of his leprosy."...

9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and
he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a
messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven
times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall
be clean."

11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said,...
12 "Are not the Abana and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus,
better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them
and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants...said, "My father, if the prophet had
told you to do something great, would you not have done it?
How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be
clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the
Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh
was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 And he returned to the man of God...and stood before
him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in
all the earth, except in Israel..."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In Luke 4:27 Jesus referred to the healing of
Naaman: "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha
the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman
the Syrian." His words are a reminder that God's concern and
compassion are not limited to His chosen people, Israel, but
extend to both Jew and Gentile.