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.

Say Yes - She 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'!" 14 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 Say Yes - She Said

“How hard could it be? Just do what you’re told?” I stood watching as the coach scolded his batter.

“Raise your elbows, don’t rest the bat on your shoulder, bend your knees and step into the swing.”

“But that’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward.” The girl belted back. “My way is better. I can get under the ball.”

The ump called Play ball!” Stepping to the plate she glanced over her shoulder then shrugged off her coach’s advice. Her bat rested against her shoulder and she stood straight and rigid. The pitcher wound the throw and released—it sailed past her, chest level.

“Striiikke!”

“Tracy! The bases are loaded. Do what I ask.”

Again, she glanced over her shoulder and ignored the coach. The pitcher drew back and fired a second shot, dead center of the strike zone.

“Time out!” The coach shouted. Pulling Tracy to the side he brushed his hand under his cap then snugged it tight on his head.

“Do you need Chipper Jones giving you good advice or can you just take heed? The bases are loaded. You’re looking at RBI’s and a win. Your hit could win this tournament. Don’t be foolish.”
Naaman was a cocky, too. He’d been given a cure for his leprosy and all he had to do was dip in the Jordan River. But his pride got in the way. He grumbled and complained with a cure at hand because he didn’t get the fanfare and attention of a public healing. Dipping in the muddy waters of the Jordan wasn’t good enough and it took his servants calling his hand before he realized the gift he’d been given.

We’re good at letting pride cloud our view. We ask God for help, He provides solutions. Instead of accepting the gift in its simplicity, we insist we know a better way. The answer we’re given couldn’t possibly be right. That’s us. Know-it-all’s—sadly, we’re usually wrong. Somehow we never seem to learn, God’s way is the right way.

Tracy stepped into the batter’s box. Swinging the bat several strokes she stepped away. She rested the bat on her shoulder, eyed her teammates inching from the bases, then took her stance. She bent her knees, raised her elbows and stepped into the swing. The ball cracked against the bat then rose just above the reach of the outfielder then flew over the fence.

God loves caring for us, providing our needs. He simply asks for us to obey. When you ask for an answer and God provides—say yes. His way is the right way and your reward will be great.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95