Pastor Bob DuPar
June 23, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

2 Kings 4:18-5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 17:23.

Observation

Naaman didn’t just want to be healed; he wanted the healing to follow the proper procedure which he had envisioned. Thank goodness he had wise servants who talked sense into him. Basically the servants counseled Naaman that he was too concerned with the method of the healing and he should have been more focused on the results which were promised. At least he had the maturity to seek Elisha out afterward to thank him and acknowledge that there is “no God in all the world except in Israel.” (5:15)

Elisha’s servant Gehazi was definitely caught up in the wrong things. He wanted to profit materially from Elisha’s ministry. In fact, he was frustrated with Elisha for not capitalizing on opportunities to be recompensed for his services. I don’t think Gehazi got the fact that God was the one doing the miracles. How could Elisha charge for what God was doing?

I liked Peter’s speech/sermon in Acts 15, especially in verses 8-11:

“God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them (the Gentiles) by giving them the Holy Spirit… He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith. …We believe that it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Application

Too often I get more focused on the process than the outcome. As long as God is honored in the process, who cares what it looks like or how unconventional it seems?
Prayer

“Lord, keep me focused on the big picture of what You’re doing in individual lives and in the world. May I not miss seeing Your mighty hand at work because it doesn’t fit my preconceptions or expectations.”