2 Kings 5:1-14

Hey New Life,

How is your week going? Our Daily Bible passage comes from 2 Kings 5:1-14, and it is one of my favorite bible stories: the healing of Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the powerful Syrian army. He had everything: great power, riches, and favor. However, he was plagued by leprosy. 

There are many lessons in this passage, but we will take a look at two aspects: 1. The Sickness of Sin 2. The Gift of Grace

The Sickness of Sin

Leprosy was a fatal, incurable disease back then. The Israelite king's response to this request for healing in v. 7 showed the impossibility of the task. This leprosy shows us the sickness of sin and pride. We see Naaman's pride flowing out from his heart when he was met by a messenger (instead of Elisha himself) and when he was told to do the simple act of washing in the Jordan seven times (instead of a fancy, healing ritual). Naaman believed he was someone important and thought he should be treated as such to be healed. He brought his silver and gold, because he saw this healing as a transaction.

Naaman's leprosy is a picture of our sin. It is incurable. It leads to death. If we stay proud like Naaman, it will lead to our eternal death, because we believe that we are too good for God's grace and we cannot humble ourselves to receive the gift of salvation.

The Gift of Grace

It only takes the simple act of washing in the Jordan 7 times for Naaman to be healed. Elisha refused to take any of the riches offered (v. 16), meaning that grace is not a transaction to be processed but a gift to be received. Naaman could not earn it or pay for it. The only question was whether he would humble himself to receive this free gift.

The gift of salvation is free. We cannot earn it or pay for it. All it takes is the simple act of trusting in the finished work of Christ. But this simple act may be the hardest for some of us. It requires us to humble ourselves and not trust in anything but Christ alone. 

Grace comes free for us, because it was costly for someone else. Jesus paid for it all on our behalf, and now we are to trust and receive Him. And we continue to take on a posture of humility, receiving His grace and surrendering all to Him.

May this grace humble us, empower us, and renew us daily!

In Christ,

Pastor Tim