Listen

Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean.”

But Naaman went away in anger. He said, “I thought for sure that he’d come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the bad spot, and cure the skin disease. Aren’t the rivers in Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all Israel’s waters? Couldn’t I wash in them and get clean?” So he turned away and proceeded to leave in anger.

2 Kings 5:9-12

Think

As Naaman angrily drives away from Elisha’s home, we realize Naaman’s real problem is not the leprosy eating away at his body, but the pride that is eating away at his soul.

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says, “pride is a spiritual cancer” which leads to anger, greed, and malice.

Think of a time when you felt like you were not getting what was rightfully yours. How did you react? Did you react with words of love or anger? Words of humility or pride?

Jesus walked in this world associating with the beggars, the broken, and the afflicted. Jesus lived as a homeless man and died as a criminal. Jesus never drove in with chariots and horses; instead, with abiding love and profound humility Jesus offered the world a new definition of strength.

Today, may we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, choosing love instead of anger, selflessness instead of greed, and humility instead of pride.

Kelli Kirksey

Pray

Dear God, help me to recognize areas in my life where pride has taken a front seat. Give me the courage to let go of that pride and embrace humility. Amen.

Go

You are seen.

You are known.

You are loved to the very depths of your being.

Now go and share that love with the world.

This is the healing power of Christ Jesus in you.

Amen.