Monday, July 8, 2019

Keep It Simple!

2 Kings 5:9-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots to Elisha’s house and stood outside the door. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman who said, “Go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. Then your skin will be healed, and you will be pure and clean.”
11 Naaman became angry and left. He said, “I thought Elisha would at least come out and stand in front of me and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my body and heal 
the leprosy12 Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, are better than all the water in Israel. Why can’t I wash in those rivers in Damascus and become clean?” He was very angry and turned to leave.
13 But Naaman’s servants went to him and talked to him. They said, “Father, if the prophet told you to do some great thing, you would do it, isn’t that right? But he said, ‘Wash, and you will be pure and clean.’”
 
Elisha gave Naaman some pretty simple instructions to be healed but Naaman wanted more.  He was, afterall, a very important man!  He deserved a production!  He deserved a show! These simply instructions seemed to insult him.  Thankfully, his servant talked some sense into him and he followed the directions and was healed.  Sometimes the simple solution really is the answer!  It doesn’t all have to be hard and complicated.  Sometimes, in life, we really do make it harder than it has to be.  Keep it simple!

Holy God,
Sometimes we make things so messy and complicated when it really is just as simple as can be. Love is simple, kindness is simple, compassion is simple. Help us, Lord, to live simply.  Amen.

 

 


 

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Monday, July 1, 2019

Called to Freedom

Galatians 5:13-15 The Message (MSG)
13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
 

Galatians 5:13-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
I love the message interpretation but I think it’s important for us to see it in a more traditional translation as well so I included both for us. 

We are called to freedom but don’t let it go to your 
head.  That’s how I hear it anyway.  Don’t get carried away by this freedom and start thinking your freedom trumps someone else’s.  Don’t hurt others so that you can have your perceived freedom. Instead remember that first we are called to love one another, to serve one another. 

Loving Lord,
Help us to remember that with the call to freedom, comes responsibility.  The responsibility to love one another as you love us.  Amen.
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