RTW June 16
The King Restores
So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.
2 Kings 8:6b
My Takeaways
Something Old
Something New
She boldly approached the king. We can boldly approach our King.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16
The King restored everything. Our King will restore everything.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” (NIV) Joel 2:25
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (NIV)Ephesians 3:20
Something to Do
Sing praises to my King. He is my Restorer and my Redeemer.
My Take Aways: Changing Hearts
Something Old: “So we cooked my son and ate him…” 2 Kings 6:29 Prophecy fulfilled. This is a shocking and terrible effect of what Moses had already told would happen when the Israelites disobeyed. My stomach got sick as I read this, but it also put into perspective the justice of God. He means business. God wants us all. He is a jealous God. I must never take his commands lightly. Sin is an awful thing, its only result is misery for the world! Oh how I need the Lord to correct my sinful ways.
Something New: My salvation in Christ was revealed to me today as I read the story Naaman. One servant girl, had an impact on many- a general’s wife, a general, two kings, a prophet, and the prophet’s servant. The servant girl had a huge impact on Naaman’s life and the others. She was faithful. All she did was say a few words about her God to her mistress. “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy,” (2 Kings 5:3). God used her to do his work, just like he can use me. All I am asked to do is open my mouth and tell others about God. He will take care of the rest. Naaman never saw Elisha, yet he believed by faith and obeyed his instructions to wash in the Jordan River. I am the same, having never seen Jesus with my eyes, I must believe by faith and receive salvation, forgiveness for my sins. I am washed clean and made new by faith alone in Christ alone.
God most often uses people to bring other people to a saving relationship with Him. This story made me reflect back on my own salvation experience. God used my 9 year old friend to bring me to Christ. Is my life showing Christ to others? Who am I bringing to him through my actions? God arranges opportunities regularly for me to share my faith. I wonder why is it that I don’t tell more people about Christ? Naaman changed after being restored. He never again bowed before other gods, but only to the Lord. Does my life outwardly reflect what God has done for me inwardly, or is my
worship only skin deep? Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;” Hebrews 4:2 “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” A person may hear without responding in faith, but no man can express faith in the absence of proclamation.
Something To Do: Share the gospel. Look for opportunities to tell others what God can do. I never will know all the lives I can touch if I never share what I know.