THE LORD SPOKE (May 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Kings 5-6

"Seven Ducks in a Muddy Stream" was the sermon title one preacher used for Naaman's story in II Kings 5. The chapter begins by telling us what an impressive person he was:

• "commander of the army" - high visibility and higher responsibility among the Arameans
• "a great man in the sight of his master" - trusted because he knew how to get the job done
• "highly regarded" - victory over the dreaded Assyrians (the author attributed his victory to the God of Israel!)
• "valiant soldier" - one to whom others looked for courage, leadership, and safety

The unsung hero of this passage is a little servant girl whose name we don't even know. Her undaunted faith led others at the highest levels to trust in God - the king of Aram, Naaman, and all those who eventually saw the results. Does your life and lip turn people in the right direction? Do you help others to believe in God?

Elisha quickly becomes the central figure of the story. From a little girl's recognition of his spiritual power to the very halls of political power in two national palaces (Aram and Israel), Elisha's reputation as "the man of God" is rung. Everyone knew that "there is a prophet in Israel" (II Ki. 5:8).

But, it is God who gets the glory by the end of the story. Naaman is cleansed in body (II Ki. 5:14) and soul (II Ki. 5:15, 17). All his household is led to faith (II Ki. 5:13). The skeptical Israelite king (II Ki. 5:7) must have been impressed as were all his subjects who were hoping for Aramean support against the Assyrians.

Only one person is mentioned who missed the memo and tried to use the occasion for personal gain. The result: Gehazi, Elisha's servant, ends up a leper. Just as the chapter opened with leprosy (II Ki. 5:1) so it closes (II Ki. 5:27), and Naaman's leprosy clings to the household of Gehazi thereafter. Sin has a way of doing that. We never get off ourselves and we usually take many others down with us. Let's follow the little girl whose name we don't even know.


New Testament: I Corinthians 15

“His grace to me was not without effect.” (I Cor. 15:10)

Can you say that? Certainly, if you are already a child of God, His grace has been efficacious. His grace is sufficient for all mankind to come to faith but it is efficient only for those who believe.

But what about after that? God showers His grace upon us in so very many different ways. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mat. 5:45). There is not a day that goes by - not even one minute - that we don’t experience God’s common grace. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).

But there’s more than that too. Paul’s statement has to do with what God wants to do for and through us. He wants to bless us and to make us a blessing to others. His grace has higher goals for us. Are you receiving that grace? Are you, so to speak, taking full advantage of the grace of God intended for you? Is God’s grace effective in your life - is it working?

God has done His part. It is up to us to cooperate with His plan and to experience the full measure of His grace. At the end of this chapter, Paul gives us an important clue as to how this works. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (I Cor. 15:58). That’s how you will be able to say, “His grace to me was not without effect”.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
Annie Johnson Flint