I love the wisdom that is found in the Old Testament.
In 2 Kings chapter 5 we read the account of Naaman who commanded the Syrian army and was held in high regard by his master.
Naaman developed a skin disease.
A servant told her mistress that if Naaman were in the presence of the prophet in Samaria he could be cured.
Naaman, upon hearing this tells the Syrian king who tells him to go and he will send a letter to the king of Israel.
Naaman departs taking with him a reward for the prophet whom he expects to cure him.
The king of Israel receives the letter and becomes upset.
After all, he knows that he cannot cure diseases.
He concludes that the letter is the prelude to a conflict between the two nations.
The prophet Elisha learns that the king is upset and requests that Naaman be sent to him.
Naaman arrives at Elisha’s home and stands in the doorway.
2 Kings 5:10 (NET) - Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, "Go wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored and you will be healed."
This time, Naaman becomes upset.
After all, Elisha never even came out to even meet him or called upon God or anything else, for that matter.
All he did was to send word to him by way of a messenger to wash in the Jordan seven times.
Naaman began to go away angry.
Now here is where great wisdom comes into play.
2 Kings 5:13 (NET) - His servants approached and said to him, "O master, if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, you would have been willing to do it. It seems you should be happy that he simply said, ‘Wash and be healed.’"
Naaman then did as Elisha instructed him through the messenger.
He simply washed seven times in the Jordan… and was healed.
When it comes to salvation many often have incorrect preconceived notions.
Some assume that salvation for them is completely out of reach.
Some assume that salvation is too difficult to obtain because they have not done enough to earn it.
The reality is quite different.
Salvation is neither out of reach nor difficult to obtain.
Salvation does not have to be earned because it cannot be earned.
You see, someone has already paid in full for salvation at a tremendous price.
It is now a gift that only needs to be accepted.
John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to he Father except through me."
Romans 10:9 (NET) - ... because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
When you Look at the price He paid, you will see that what He requires is simple by comparison.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 8, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 15, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Letting Go of the Wheel
Proverbs 19:21 (NET) - There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand.
I am a guy.
As such, I enjoy watching sports on television,
I especially enjoy watching motor sports.
(Author’s Note: You are going to have to trust me. There is a purpose here,)
One of the great features in auto racing at the top levels is that sometimes a select group of drivers have cameras in their cars.
Danica Patrick often has a camera in her car.
Once, during a race, Danica got caught up in an accident that sent her car out of control.
Her car was heading toward the inside wall and try as she might, she could do nothing to prevent the collision that was to follow.
Moments before impact, Danica removed both hands from the steering wheel and raised them up to helmet level.
Due to the customized racing seat built just for her coupled with the restraining devices employed, she was only able to move slightly forward upon impact, but I’m sure it was not a pleasant experience hitting that wall.
Danica received some undue criticism from some fans who did not realize that releasing the steering wheel before impact was a planned maneuver and not a reaction to fear.
In fact, the very next week I witnessed Jimmie Johnson, a five time Cup Series champion execute a similar move under very similar circumstances.
There are times when even a seasoned professional driver knows he is going to hit the wall.
By taking his hands off the steering wheel, he avoids sending massive shock wave up his arms and thereby avoids injuring his arms unnecessarily.
Life can present us with unpleasant and even painful circumstances we cannot avoid.
We have a choice.
We can try to go it alone and try to maintain sole control of our lives by hanging on tightly to the wheel.
Or, we can take the other option.
We can let go of the steering wheel of our lives and turn control over to God.
We may not be able to avoid the circumstances, but we can get through them with far less pain and far less anxiety if we recognize that God is not only in control of the circumstances but our lives as well.
When we do, a remarkable thing happens.
We wonder why we fought so hard for control all along.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 18, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, May 25, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
I am a guy.
As such, I enjoy watching sports on television,
I especially enjoy watching motor sports.
(Author’s Note: You are going to have to trust me. There is a purpose here,)
One of the great features in auto racing at the top levels is that sometimes a select group of drivers have cameras in their cars.
Danica Patrick often has a camera in her car.
Once, during a race, Danica got caught up in an accident that sent her car out of control.
Her car was heading toward the inside wall and try as she might, she could do nothing to prevent the collision that was to follow.
Moments before impact, Danica removed both hands from the steering wheel and raised them up to helmet level.
Due to the customized racing seat built just for her coupled with the restraining devices employed, she was only able to move slightly forward upon impact, but I’m sure it was not a pleasant experience hitting that wall.
Danica received some undue criticism from some fans who did not realize that releasing the steering wheel before impact was a planned maneuver and not a reaction to fear.
In fact, the very next week I witnessed Jimmie Johnson, a five time Cup Series champion execute a similar move under very similar circumstances.
There are times when even a seasoned professional driver knows he is going to hit the wall.
By taking his hands off the steering wheel, he avoids sending massive shock wave up his arms and thereby avoids injuring his arms unnecessarily.
Life can present us with unpleasant and even painful circumstances we cannot avoid.
We have a choice.
We can try to go it alone and try to maintain sole control of our lives by hanging on tightly to the wheel.
Or, we can take the other option.
We can let go of the steering wheel of our lives and turn control over to God.
We may not be able to avoid the circumstances, but we can get through them with far less pain and far less anxiety if we recognize that God is not only in control of the circumstances but our lives as well.
When we do, a remarkable thing happens.
We wonder why we fought so hard for control all along.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 18, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, May 25, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
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