Obedience Doesn't Need Drama

Scripture: But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13

Observation: Naaman, seeking to be cured of a skin disease, receives a simply instruction from Elisha - go wash in the Jordan river - and gets mad about it. He expected ... magic. He thought Elisha would see him, chant, waive his arms, and 'poof' a miracle would occur. "Go wash" seems useless at best, if not insulting, and certainly without greatness and drama. It is Naaman's servant who puts it all in context. Effectively, if Elisha would have assigned Naaman a great and epic quest for redemption, Naaman would have done it gladly, so ... how awesome is it that all he has to do is go wash!

God's ways are mysterious, but that is because they are often simple. Their difficulty lies not in the work to be done, but in the faith to be applied. Naaman had washed his skin many, many, many times. Therefore, washing his skin seven times was not point. Obeying the instructions of God was the point.

Application: What simply thing has God asked me to do, but I am not due to a lack of faith? I seek humility in my service, but am I listening to the small requests of God, or just taking on projects? I feel somehow this applies to the stress in our family. My big job is to care for my family, but I am not doing some little job that would make a difference for my wife, my son, and/or my daughter. This may be because I am not seeking that little job.

Prayer: Lord, I come to you and know on your door. You do not need to come see me, just send a word. What should I be doing? I want to serve my family and help them through all this stress and change. Please provide me with your instructions, and in faith I will obey. Amen.