Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Touching the Untouchable
Sherry George
St. John's MTC, NY
1 Naaman, commander of the
army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master,
because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a
mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.
In the story of Naaman, we meet a man known as great man, a commander, a leader, a man highly regarded in the eyes of the king of Aram, a victorious man in battle, a valiant soldier... and a leper. Like Naaman, we too are recognized for our great strengths or great weaknesses.
Here, we see it was truly God who worked through Naaman to give victory. Although the victory was from the Lord, the power of God was not made known in Naaman’s strengths. Rather, it was through Naaman's weakness that God's victory and power was shown. Naaman was a leper, what would make a man of his time a social pariah. All his victory in battle and any great thing he might achieve in life could not stop him for being recognized for his greatest weakness.
Everyday our great God works miracles and great things through our lives, but our weakness and shortcomings that make us and others blind to the power of God in our lives. And it is our weakness that we usually try to hide. But God meets us in our untouchable, regretful, shameful weakness and knows how to make amazing things happen. In Naaman's life, the power of God was seen in his healing. The moment Naaman obeyed God's will, Naaman emerged from the water as a new man. He gave his weakness over to God and he gained his most amazing victory.
Like Naaman, let us too bring before God what may be regarded as our weakness and let his power work victory in and through our lives.
In the story of Naaman, we meet a man known as great man, a commander, a leader, a man highly regarded in the eyes of the king of Aram, a victorious man in battle, a valiant soldier... and a leper. Like Naaman, we too are recognized for our great strengths or great weaknesses.
Here, we see it was truly God who worked through Naaman to give victory. Although the victory was from the Lord, the power of God was not made known in Naaman’s strengths. Rather, it was through Naaman's weakness that God's victory and power was shown. Naaman was a leper, what would make a man of his time a social pariah. All his victory in battle and any great thing he might achieve in life could not stop him for being recognized for his greatest weakness.
Everyday our great God works miracles and great things through our lives, but our weakness and shortcomings that make us and others blind to the power of God in our lives. And it is our weakness that we usually try to hide. But God meets us in our untouchable, regretful, shameful weakness and knows how to make amazing things happen. In Naaman's life, the power of God was seen in his healing. The moment Naaman obeyed God's will, Naaman emerged from the water as a new man. He gave his weakness over to God and he gained his most amazing victory.
Like Naaman, let us too bring before God what may be regarded as our weakness and let his power work victory in and through our lives.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to seek
your will and glorify your name at all times, and help us to remember your
victory in any weakness in our lives. Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” - Romans 5:6
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” - Romans 5:6