– Today’s Community Scripture – 5/19/2025

– Reflection:

I listened to my cousin’s sermon yesterday about expectations and being what we think is insulted. I am stepping away from Acts 4 for a while. To explain, I will talk about a passage in 2 Kings. Naaman was a warrior who had leprosy and was expecting Elisha to come out and meet him. We all have this within us and need to check it and follow the directions that were given to us. Naaman was told by the messenger from Elisha to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times to become clean again. The warrior was expecting to be healed one way, the way he anticipated, but God always has another way to show us. This highlights the God He is because not only does He honor you by blessing you even though we don’t deserve it, but He reveals a totally different way of being blessed that we weren’t expecting at all. He is God, by the way. Naaman complained, as most of us probably would have too, but he did what was told to him. In the seventh dip, he was made clean, and he saw what was real and the power of God.

– Where do we go from here?

Step out and show the faith and belief that God has shown us. While we are transforming into the person God created us to be, let us not look down on those who haven’t come to Christ yet. Allow them the same grace we were offered and make space for them as we had space made for us. Let the changes in you be something that those who may not be ready can see, through how you have changed and what it will look like when they change. There is a discipline to this, one that must be honored each and every day because of the faith that we all have. When our change happens, can we help someone else? Sure, we can, but they need to want the change. Even though we know how great it is, they still have to want it. Let’s continue to listen to and trust the words from our true messengers and our Father above, because he will not send anyone to hurt us. Those in our lives walking with us know the journey; those who just popped up know nothing of you or what has been placed in your heart by Christ, so guard your heart in those situations. 

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for sending messengers, pigeons, wart hogs; whatever you send, I will be ready to receive. Those in my house will honor you till their last breath and keep your WORD alive, making sure that no matter the dip we are in, we are always with you. Thank you for allowing us another day to do the work you have placed before us. Amen.