Unmasked and Exposed

As followers of Christ, I doubt any of us like to hear that we're prideful, or that God finds us resistible. But what would you do if someone did say this?

How often do we pray and wonder whether our prayers are smacking a brass ceiling and bouncing back on our heads?

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I'll be honest. I have found myself begging God to tell me what it is that blocks our airways. I sincerely don't think there's anything I'm doing wrong. I'm counting the cost of every (nearly) decision. I'm endeavoring to spend time in His word and in prayer. But something is standing between us. It's not like I think I've lost Him, or that He's turned His back on me. I just can't seem to get a solid connection, kind of like the issue I have with my smartphone, which won't allow me to see emails unless I'm on WiFi. The bill is paid, I have service, but I cannot access that feature, nor can I download pictures, until I am connected. 

This past week, while studying Elisha's ministry, the account of Naaman's healing was addressed (2 Kings 5:1-14). This man was well-respected by the Syrian king, a true warrior. But he had a problem. He was a leper.

He had a servant girl who'd been taken from Israel during a Syrian raid. Somehow, this little girl was not afraid of him, nor was she afraid to speak up on his behalf. While tending her duties for Naaman's wife, she said, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3). When Naaman heard this, he sought out his king, who wrote a letter to the Israeli king and sent Naaman on his way.

Laden with gold, silver, and clothes, Naaman went to the king of Israel. This king was fearful, believing it was a trap. But Elisha heard about the king tearing his clothes and encouraged him to send Naaman to his home. But Elisha never even saw Naaman. He sent his servant Gehazi out with instructions, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean" (2 Kings 5:10).

This angered Naaman. He was important. Didn't Elisha understand this? Shouldn't he at least have come and seen him face-to-face?

As he left, his rage simmered. But his servants appealed to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean?''' (2 Kings 5:13).

Naaman relented and dipped in the Jordan as prescribed. Not only was his flesh made like a child's, but his soul was cleansed also. The man was made new. And it all began with a little girl who had the presence of mind to be tenderhearted towards her captor instead of fearful and angry within her circumstances. 

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Once healed, Naaman attempted to bring the gifts back to Elisha, but was turned away with the words that it wouldn't be right to accept tokens for what God had done.

But Elisha's servant, Gehazi, had other ideas. He snuck out, sought out Naaman, and procured some of the gifts for himself. And then, he lied to Elisha about it. His greed, deception, and pride brought on himself and his family the leprosy that had been Naaman's (2 Kings 5:15-27).

This account was unsettling. Not only did the heart of one man soften towards something he thought was beneath him, but another's heart lifted up in pride to obtain what was not his to claim. And the reward for each action followed.

Scripture tells us, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18) and also "Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 18:12). James reminds us later, "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

So, what is pride?

It is taking credit for what only God can do. It is lifting oneself to a place of idolatry. Words like self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-worth ... are indicators of setting one's own self in a place where God alone ought to reside. Yes, it is taking credit for what only God can do. But it is also any action that disallows God from intervening in any situation. It's the "I've got this" mindset that says I will power through this difficulty and come out on the other side all the stronger for it.

Going back to the block I'd been asking the Lord about, I can honestly say it was the attitude of self-reliance and trying to figure things out on my own. Proverbs says this:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8). 

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Eventually, what we hide inside is going to make its way to the surface, and everyone will see it. 

It's not the visible part of the iceberg that is dangerous, but that which is hidden beneath the surface. 

So why not just take it to the Lord and deal with it now?

Until next time, go with God. 💜 Karlene J 💜

It's Not a Swear Word

Ask anyone to name their favorite season, and chances are the answer will reflect a time when they can relax, enjoy a vacation, their favorite sport or activity, or simply catch a breath. For some, summer is the best, because time at the beach or on the water is a "happy place." For others, skiing is the best, so they might wish for winter. 

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Whatever the season, no one will say that they wish life were filled with potholes, downed trees, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or any other disaster--metaphorically or literally. How often have we heard of someone walking through a personal storm and they express, "I wish I could catch a break."

So many use the scripture that says, God won't give you more than you can handle, and say, "I wish God didn't trust me so much."

Let me be honest. Whenever I do a search for this Scripture passage, I find this: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV). The NKJV says "beyond what you are able."

This Scripture ought to encourage us in one of two ways: we are not alone in our temptations if we are part of community, and God has also provided the way of escape, so we don't have to be burdened down with the weight of the temptation beyond our ability.

So what do we call the winds and waves threatening to push us into the dirt? Certainly not a vacation at the beach, or a walk through an enchanted forest. Are they temptations from God? Is God mad at us, or have we missed something?

Temptations could be part of discipline, chastening, that God permits in order to mature us. We should embrace them as such. But we must keep in mind, God does not tempt us with evil (James 1:13). It is important to recognize that temptation comes in many forms, and always plays on a weakness or desire we hold in our hearts. The temptation itself is not sin. Giving in to it is.

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Let's take a look at Elisha's ministry. God executed many miracles through this man. When we read the story of the Shunammite woman, someone whose desire was to bless the man of God whenever he came through. Her kindness was met with a gift she had not asked for. A child. When Elisha delivered the message that she would give birth to a son, her response was, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" (II Kings 4:16b)

She couldn't risk hope. It was shameful for a woman to be without children in her day. Her husband was much older and she was barren. The temptation was too much. But Elisha assured her, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son (II Kings 4:16a). And a year later, she'd given birth. Scripture says the boy had grown, was weaned, and followed his father into the fields, then complained of headaches. Later that day, he died in his mother's arms.

Can you imagine? The promised child, here. And gone again. In today's society, she'd have many in her corner crying foul. Elisha's ministry would be in jeopardy, perhaps. The temptation might have been incredible. Smear the man who played this horrifying game with a woman's broken heart ... or turn to the man of God for help.

She arranged to go meet Elisha and bring him back. The Lord hid from him her distress until she spoke to him directly. Then she said to him, "Did I ask for a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'" (II Kings 4:28).

What had she done to deserve this?

The answer is nothing. There is no account of her committing some terrible sin requiring punishment. What she did do was serve and bless the man of God.

This is where we learn about one of today's nastiest words: DISCIPLINE. Hebrews calls it chastening. 

We don't like the word because it comes with the connotation of punishment. But Hebrews tells us, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV).

So, if my understanding is correct, and this woman did nothing wrong but endured this tragedy, perhaps her lesson was trust. She could rely on God.

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We can learn from Elisha's ministry that God is trustworthy, He can do things no man can fathom, wars can be won with Him fighting for us, and there is more for us than against us (Romans 8:31). There is more provision than we can ask for when we place our hope and trust in His word.

When we follow the ministry of Jesus, we can see Him tell people, "Only believe. All things are possible to those who believe" (Luke 8:50; Mark 5:36; John 17:20). Jesus assures us that He is our answer to challenges and distress. He will provide more than we can imagine when we step out in obedience to His word (Luke 5:4-7).

Discipline is not a swear word. In fact, it's the golden brick path to God's blessing and abundance in our souls. And when we consider the seasons of our lives, perhaps we can change the filter of our lens to see where God was teaching, training, growing, maturing -- disciplining -- us. Spring, we plant. Summer, we maintain. Fall, we harvest. Winter, we store up for spring. Each season takes diligence and good stewardship if we want the next season to produce the outcome we're looking for.

Jesus is not asking us to be perfect to please Him.

He's asking us to trust Him and allow Him to perfect us. 

Some links for further study on discipline:

https://www.gotquestions.org/chasten-chastening.html

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4731333/

https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/temple/the_discipline_of_temptation.htm

https://bibledictionarytoday.com/words/discipline/

https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-temptation-is-and-is-not/

Until next time, 💜 Karlene J 💜