Daily Devotions
When Our Thoughts Get in the Way of God's Thoughts
Reading for October 17th: Mark 6-7
Weekly reading for October 11-17: James 1-5
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20
You may be familiar with the story of Naaman, the leper. He came to Elisha wanting to be healed. Elisha told him to wash in the river Jordan seven times and he would be clean. This remedy offended Naaman. He thought it was beneath him. He left Elisha in a rage saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper." (2 Kings 5:11)
Notice the first three words out of his mouth: "Behold, I thought..." His reasoning didn't match with God's reasoning and so he refused (initially) to follow God's simple remedy for his leprosy. How often are we like Naaman?
The Lord tells us that we love our enemies, but that command seems crazy and so we go away saying, "Behold, I thought..."
God's Word reveals to us his plan and purpose for the church, but it seems too narrow and simple to us and we go away saying, "Behold, I thought..."
God gives us the remedy for sin, but it seems foolish to us and we walk away saying, "Behold, I thought..."
You get the idea. So, where in your personal life are you thinking too much? Do you doubt what God has told you to do? Are you responding with prideful rebellion or with trusting submission?
Father open up our hearts and minds to receive your wisdom.
