Naaman was tested. First by...
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Naaman was tested. First by his terrible affliction of leprosy. Second by the prophet's word that Naaman needed to take action to find healing. He was not going to be helped by being passive. Only if he had the faith to be obedient to the word of God that came through Elisha.
That reminded me of a minister who was in deep distress because he had been victimized in his previous church by the conniving of a small proprietary group and was about to be assigned to a smaller church. He was angry at the seeming injustice and frustrated at the seeming inadequate use of his talents. Then, he met an old retired bishop toward whom he felt great affection and esteem. "Where are you now?" asked the bishop. After answering the bishop's question, the minister said, "It's not quite what I expected." The bishop understood. He gave a very simple word of advice: "Just preach the Gospel." That was surely God's word for the minister, and he knew he must be obedient. He gave himself to being what he was called to be -- a preacher and pastor. The people in his new church were very appreciative and loving. Exciting things happened. The minister was healed by the love and acceptance of those wonderful people in a way that might not have happened in another church; and surely would not have happened if he had ignored God's word to "preach the Gospel" and had just sat around sulking and feeling sorry for himself.
That reminded me of a minister who was in deep distress because he had been victimized in his previous church by the conniving of a small proprietary group and was about to be assigned to a smaller church. He was angry at the seeming injustice and frustrated at the seeming inadequate use of his talents. Then, he met an old retired bishop toward whom he felt great affection and esteem. "Where are you now?" asked the bishop. After answering the bishop's question, the minister said, "It's not quite what I expected." The bishop understood. He gave a very simple word of advice: "Just preach the Gospel." That was surely God's word for the minister, and he knew he must be obedient. He gave himself to being what he was called to be -- a preacher and pastor. The people in his new church were very appreciative and loving. Exciting things happened. The minister was healed by the love and acceptance of those wonderful people in a way that might not have happened in another church; and surely would not have happened if he had ignored God's word to "preach the Gospel" and had just sat around sulking and feeling sorry for himself.
