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Commentary on "Gehazi: Missing the Mark"
Day 7: Friday, December 17, 2010 - Further Study
Overview
As always, an Ellen White quote.
There also is this interesting question: “Go back to 2 Kings 5:17–19. What lessons should or should we not draw from Naaman’s request to Elisha about bowing down in the house of Rimmon?” (Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, Oct. Nov. Dec. 2010, page 148)
Problems
I find it ironic that a lesson regarding the failure to serve would close with a question that opens the door of doubt regarding Naaman’s conversion. Why not close with a ringing endorsement of his willingness to serve God by serving his king, even though his king was a pagan. Obviously, the king was old and/or infirm in some way, and he needed Naaman’s help to worship.
Here is a more recent example. When we lived in Colorado our subdivision had access to irrigation water. As long as that water ran during the summer months the ditches were easy to keep clean. However, during the late Fall, Winter and early Spring months the ditches would become clogged with weeds and trash.
Every spring our home owner’s association planned a ditch clean-up day in order to prepare for the summer irrigation runs. These clean-up days always were scheduled for Saturday.
During the first half of our time there, we piously refused to help. We explained that Saturday was our day of worship, so we could not participate. What we got for our careful and well-reasoned explanation (our good witness) were confused looks, shaking heads and not a little resentment.
I’ll never forget the first Saturday ditch clean-up day in which we served. We were a bit nervous as we thought about possibly getting struck by a heavenly thunderbolt. We discovered that we had really nice neighbors, many of whom were Christians, some of whom were not. We worked hard. We had fun. We shared a common goal. In short, we enjoyed fellowship. No thunderbolts. No judgment. Instead, all of us shared in the true joy of serving one another in love.
This is what happens when you allow the perfect love of God to drive out your fear – fear of failure, fear of not measuring up to the Law, fear of punishment, fear of whatever.
Replace law with grace and behavior modification with Spirit-led mind renewal. Stop initiating to God and begin responding to Him by faith. I guarantee your life will never be the same.
Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. November 15, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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