Don’t Let Pride Get in the Way of Obedience
Monday, December 9
2 Kings 5:10-12 (NIV)
“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.”
Devotion
Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a man of high regard, a valiant soldier who had leprosy. He came to Elisha with not only gifts from the king of Aram but with expectations to be cured in a grand display. However, he was not even personally greeted by the prophet. Instead, Elisha’s servant relayed to him something seemingly ridiculous to him– he was to wash himself 7 times in the turbid discolored Jordan. If the prophet wasn’t going to come out to him and call on the name of the Lord his God, waving his hand over him for all to see a most glorious transformation then the least he could do is send him to the rivers of Damascus known for their great freshness and beauty. Needless to say, Naaman was highly insulted and left in a rage!
Have you ever had preconceived ideas as to how God should do something? Naaman’s story is one where we learn that God is looking for obedience even when we do not understand why. He doesn’t need for us to tell him how to do things either even when we think that we have a better idea, or think that we should help God out a little. The biggest thing in Naaman’s way of receiving his blessing though was most likely his pride. He was not treated with the prestige that he was used to. It was his ego that suffered a blow and he had to humble himself to carry out the command. Being a commander himself he must have realized that not all of his own commands were always understood yet he expected them to be obeyed.
There may be significance in Elisha asking Naaman to go to the Jordan. Bible scholars have much to say about the Jordan river and its meaningfulness to Judaism and Christianity, still at the heart of this story is a man who has to decide to obey what he doesn’t understand, and to lay down his pride in the doing. We all are called on sometimes to stretch our faith, let go of pride, to do things we don’t totally understand or feel in control of. But it may be that very step that brings us to the blessing that God has for us or the very thing that blesses others in ways we did not expect.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You that You still speak today, through Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, and through the gift of prophecy working in the body of Jesus. Give me a heart to ask for Your will and Your guidance. Give me ears to hear Your answers whether they come through Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, or through Your voice speaking to me through believers in my life. Help me to discern Your true voice in my life from the imitations, and especially from the world, from my flesh, and from the devil. And once I have heard You speak, help me not to be like Naaman was at first, unwilling to obey because Your answer is different from what I hoped for or expected. Help me to obey and thus to benefit from obedience to Your will and Your guidance in my life. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
In today’s verses we are reminded of the importance of humility and obedience if we desire to receive anything from the Lord. What is one simple thing the pastor or the Holy Spirit has reminded you to do? Have you not done it yet because you are too busy, it doesn’t make sense, or it does not seem important enough (pride)? Even if you can’t understand why from your perspective today, say, “Yes, Jesus” with your actions.
Resources:
- Watch yesterday’s powerful sermon, “The Power of Pleasing God”, and be determined to let go of all the prideful aspects of your life and please your Heavenly Father.
- Learn what the Bible says concerning pride by reading and contemplating on the following scriptures; Proverbs 11:2, 29:23, 8:13, Romans 12:16, James 4:6, and 1 John 2:16-17.