GPS Guide – July 11, 2019

NAAMAN

Thursday

Read: 2 Kings 5:16-18

“¹⁶ The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.¹⁷ “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.¹⁸ But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” (NIV 2 Kings 5:16-18)

Study: I think Elisha and Naaman both teach us a useful lesson here. Like Elisha, when we serve God, we do so not expecting a thing. We serve God because he first loved us and we should reflect that love. But, if we are being honest, how often do we serve someone (even out of good intentions) and expect at least something in return? We should do as Elisha did and serve to show God’s love. Naaman, on the other hand, shows us a correct response to an experience with God. He wanted to even take some of the soil from “God’s Land” so that he could make sacrifices on the land of the Isrealites. Naaman was willing to do anything to worship God. What do you do to show how god has impacted your life?

 Prayer: Lord, I serve you to honor you, not expecting anything in return. I worship you to show how you have healed me. Amen.