Simple Steps - He Said

"Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed.' So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy." 2 Kings 5:13-14

Listen to Simple Steps

Often, the simple steps are the hardest to take. Stepping aside to let another take your place. Walking away from a fight. Saying, "I'm sorry."

I'm allergic to apologies. Can't hardly give one without shaking all over. Makes my cheeks go flush, my voice quiver. I'd rather have a tooth filled than say, "I'm sorry."

I hate to lose. Drives me crazy to back off and let someone else have their way. Especially when I know I'm right. Takes both hands over my mouth to keep me from getting in the first and last words, plus the ones in between.

And don't even think about cutting in on me. I can ride the rear of the car in front so close that, to the cars in the other lane, it looks like I'm bump-drafting.

You see, I suffer from leprosy of the soul. Naaman suffered from leprosy of the skin but, as is often the case in Scripture, his condition pointed to a spiritual affliction, too.

Leprosy begins when the bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae, multiplies. Muscles become weak, especially in the hands, feet and eyes. As the skin hardens, the victim loses feeling in his fingers and toes. He becomes blind. Severe pain grips his body. There is no cure.

Leprosy of the soul begins with one misstep away from God. Like the bacteria, it spreads throughout our lives, weakening our resolve to do what is right. We become numb to its effects, blind to the hurt we cause others and hardened to the consequences of our actions. There is no cure…save one.

Naaman sought to spend his way to a healing, but God's man refused his money. Naaman thought his position would curry favor, but God's man turned him away. Naaman thought some grand and great effort would save him, but God's man offered a simple solution. "Go wash in the river Jordan and you will be cleansed."

The cure for our leprosy is similar. Repent, and be cleansed in the name of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, the simple steps can make all the difference in the world… and, the world to come.