Learning Like Naaman

A quick post today.

I was inspired by the messages at Stake Conference this weekend, so I want to share a bit of what I am taking away from the messages I was taught there.

In 2 Kings, Chapter 5, we read the story of Naaman, "captain of the host of the king of Syria... he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper." Naaman goes to the prophet Elisha, who sends a messenger to tell him that he must wash in the river Jordan seven times to be made clean.

Verses 11-14: "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lod his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."

How often do we ignore the simple things that the Lord has asked us to do because we are too proud to see their true power and importance in our lives? Are we turning to Him in prayer and searching the scriptures for truth? He wants to save us and lead us to our full potential.

Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

I hope that I continue to learn, as Naaman was able to, how to be more obedient. When I look back at my life, I'm always disappointed with the times I haven't been faithful, for I have lived beneath my privileges. Would any of us choose to live with leprosy when we could be whole? Here's to trying once again to be diligent in obeying the small things and having gratitude that not everything we are asked by the Lord requires a huge sacrifice and effort.