December 13TH
NAAMAN’S RECOVERY (Continued)
Scripture Reading: II Kings Chapter 5
God’s grace is determined to see us through to the benefits of our recovery. There were encouraging servants with Naaman who convinced him to follow Elisha’s instructions. Elisha’s message reflected the simplicity in Christ Jesus. Naaman washed and was cleansed. Naaman’s servants recognized there was no greater thing to be done than those simple steps bidden by the prophet.
Before receiving the victory, Naaman had a mindset atypical of unbelievers and some believers alike, today. For some, there is a preconceived manner in which God is supposed to work. Naaman’s first error was, "I thought..." With careful reading of Leviticus Chapter 14, we find the law of the cleansing of the leper. It is evident by Naaman’s remarks that he had heard aspects of the letter of the law.
Naaman stated, "Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper." There are five specific things that Naaman thought. Five is the number of grace. Law and error create a dam to the flow of grace into a person’s life. Like Naaman, many know part of the letter that killeth but have no ability to discern the spirit of the Word which gives life. "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life._2 Corinthians 3:6." Christ has fulfilled the law and condemned sin in the flesh "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit._Romans 8:4."
Continued