Some Great Thing
“My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”
2 Kings 5:13
Who doesn’t want to make an impact? Do big things in big ways? Whether its scholastically, vocationally, or socially, we love to feel that we’re making a difference.
As Christians, we feel that pull, too. How can we help grow our church? How can we reach the lost? What purpose is the Lord calling me towards? In this second devotion in our “Seeing Jesus” series, we’ll examine how our own agenda can be placing spiritual blinders on us, keeping us from seeing our Lord and His calling on our lives in the here and now.
As believers, we may want to feel that we’re doing something big for God’s kingdom. I’m not sure who gets to define “big” but we’ll know it when we see it, right? Maybe not. Our spiritual vision isn’t always 20/20.
Neither was Naaman’s. In 2 Kings chapter 5, we hear about Elisha interacting with this Aramean army officer. Naaman had a powerful position in the military and was used to doing great things; however, when he contracted leprosy, he was sidelined. Seeking out a cure, he eventually was led to Elisha, a prophet of the Lord.
Elisha doesn’t tell him to conquer a country, take enemies captive, or construct a strategic outpost in order to heal. Not at all – instead, he gives Naaman very simple instructions. “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (v. 10).
Naaman didn’t like leprosy, but he didn’t like Elisha’s answer to it, either. In fact, he got angry….maybe he thought it was too easy, not flashy enough, not valiant enough, not dramatic enough. In fact, verses 11 and 12 show us exactly that. Naaman thought Elisha would wave some sort of magic hand over him, calling on the Lord’s name to heal him, making a big show. When that didn’t happen, Naaman “went off in a rage.” (v. 12) And his thoughts about taking a dip in the Jordan River? “Gross!” is essentially what Naaman said, recalling how beautiful the waters of his home country were compared to the murky waters of Israel.
Yet Naaman’s anger was quelled when he was reminded by one of his servants that listening to God’s instructions was more important than understanding them or defining them for ourselves. Elisha spoke for the Lord every single day, so these healing directions were also from Him. The servant asked Naaman to consider what he had to lose by doing this small, easy task. Naaman would’ve done something big and flashy! Why not try this? It may just have huge results! And it certainly did — Naaman bathed in the waters and his skin was healed. It also brought him to know the one true God as his Lord and Savior!
I think we all have a little bit of Naaman in us. I know that I do. Sometimes I don’t “see God” because I don’t see what He wants me to do. Or more likely, and like Naaman, I don’t think that the tiny, daily, humdrum tasks He has marked out for me are “enough” -- as if I get to define what “enough” is, when in reality that definition is in God’s hands.
I want all my efforts to have exponential effect, yet I know God works incrementally and on His timeline, not mine. I go “off in a rage” like Naaman, upset that my endeavors seemingly fall flat -- and then I am reminded that my job is to be faithful, that God often works behind the scenes, and to leave the results to Him. I want all my work to blast off into something big and then I am reminded that sometimes our best work for the Lord isn’t fireworks, but sparklers. But that might be just enough to light the dark night of one suffering soul that I may encounter.
Maybe you feel the same as I do, the same as Naaman, blinded by how our little daily activities can have such a huge impact. You faithfully take your little ones to Sunday school and attend worship services. That feels small, but you’re tilling the soil for the next generation of disciples. You encourage your friend in the Gospel when she’s struggling and remind her of God’s presence; it took just minutes out of your day but it propelled her to a more stable place so she could be a better wife and mother. Your co-worker feels lost because of his crumbling marriage and unhappy children. But your compassionate ear and an invitation to your church resulted in that family becoming Christians and securing a joyful home life.
We’ve all heard the expression, “If you cannot do big things, then do the little things in big ways.” That’s great, go ahead. But we should also challenge ourselves to do the little things in little ways, knowing that the Lord will multiply even the smallest of tasks done in His name.
He can take a mustard seed of belief and turn it into soul-saving faith. He can take five loaves and two fish and feed five thousand people. He can take an empty fishing net and bust it open with a tremendous catch. He can take a widow’s paltry donation and see a wealth of trust. He can take a dip into the Jordan River and turn it into a healing bath. Sometimes, it’s the little things done in faith that make the biggest difference. And when we do something little and God uses it for something big, the glory rests where it should - - squarely on the Lord, not on us.
Friends, be assured that He can take whatever you’re doing in His name, whatever you’re enduring in His name, or whatever you’re praying for in His name and use it for your good and His glory. His Word promises us nothing less!
Lord open our eyes to see you in the daily tasks you have marked out for us. Let us not push them aside, believing them to be “not enough.” Help us see you, Jesus, in not only the big things but also in the little. Help us see you in the manger, as a little baby, knowing what big thing our heavenly Father marked out through that birth – the complete spiritual redirection of hostile, lost beings becoming redeemed children of God!