Yesterday we spoke about the need to get right with God. It's one thing to get right with God but quite another to learn to walk rightly with God. Our Bible reading for today shows how hard that can be.
Naaman was healed of his leprosy by obeying the prophet Elisha. In the process he came to know God as the Lord of his life. He even brought some earth from Israel back to his homeland as proof that he believed in Israel's God as the true God. Though he still had much to learn about the one true God, Elisha said to him, "Go in peace."
Gehazi, Elisha's servant, should have had his thinking straight. But the lure of big bucks caused him to compound one lie with another and compromise the truth of God, so instead of wearing fancy clothes and silver, he ended up clothed with Naaman's leprosy.
Let's beware of anything that shifts our focus away from God to gaining something for ourselves. It will endanger our spiritual well-being. In the end, Gehazi gave Naaman the wrong message about God's free gift of new life, and he ruined his own life.
Let us pay attention to God's Word so that we may have the wisdom to avoid the greed that led Gehazi to compromise and lie. Keep your mind and heart focused on Jesus, and follow him.
Teach us, O Lord, to daily walk with you by following the path of Jesus, "the way and the truth and the life." Guide us by your Spirit so that we too may go in peace. Amen.
About the author — John Van Schepen
Dr. John Van Schepen is a retired pastor who served churches in Washington, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon and California. He and his wife, Willie, have been blessed with five children and several grandchildren.
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