The Priceless Gift - Day 251 Month 9-7 Week 34-6
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
2 Kings 5:1-6:7, Proverbs 29:1-14, Ezekiel 44:15-31, Galatians 1
The Priceless Gift
A year or so ago, we were provided with a new doctor. In Nova Scotia there is a large waiting list for doctors and we had been called because a new doctor had become available. An appointment was set and we went to the doctor's office for our appointment. We arrived and were called into a treatment room where we met a nurse who was going to take all of our details down. We did not realize that we were not going to see the doctor but that it would require another appointment to see the doctor. As we left the office we felt a little let down because it would have been nice to meet the doctor so that we could have a sense of what kind of doctor she would be.
Naaman the leper was given instructions by Elisha to wash in the Jordan River seven times and he would be cleansed. Naaman was furious. He felt he had been disrespected and that if that was all he had to do, there were plenty of nice rivers where he came from that he could wash in. Thankfully his servants were able to persuade him to go and wash the seven times.
I think I understand a little better why Naaman was angry. He had come expecting to meet Elisha and receive some great act of healing. Instead, Elisha didn't even come out to meet him. He simply sent a servant with instructions to wash in the Jordan River seven times.
I find it interesting that the servants explained that if Naaman had been instructed to do some great thing, he would have gladly done it. I suppose he thought that his disease was great so it must take some great response to be well and washing seemed silly. Naaman was so happy though that he still wanted to make payment because he was grateful. By refusing any payment, Elisha demonstrated that God's healing was not something Naaman could purchase. God's love cannot be purchased. It is a gift.
It’s sad that Gehazi saw this as an opportunity to cash in and was unfortunately awarded with the same illness of leprosy that Naaman had been cleansed from.
The lesson I am gleaning from the story of Naaman is that God offers his love and in this case Naaman’s healing as a gift. You cannot buy what God offers. God offers life through His son Jesus. We can choose to take it or leave it but you need to receive it if you want this life.
The doctor that we had a year ago ended up closing her practice and Syl and I were once again on the list of people requiring a doctor. A week or so ago, we received a call from our local collaborative practice. We had been selected for a doctor that was receiving patients. When we went in to the appointment, we once again were taken into a treatment room where the nurse collected our health information. At the end of the information collection, we each met with the new doctor. It was a very positive experience.
Our experience at the doctor's office is obviously not the same as Naaman meeting Elisha face to face, but it helped us understand why Naaman felt disrespected. He was expecting something significant and received what seemed to him like an insulting instruction. He had to set aside those expectations to receive the gift of healing that was offered.
Maybe that's part of the lesson for me. We can make following Jesus much more complicated than it needs to be. God offers us a gift through Jesus, but like Naaman, we still have to be willing to receive it.
Have a great day!
Steve
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