I WISH

Today's reading: 2 Kings 1-5

"One day the girl said to her mistress, I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy." 2 Kings 5:3 NLT

The wife of Naaman had a servant girl.

Scripture tells us a little about her background--where she came from and how she came to be in Naaman's house.

It doesn't, however, tell us if this was the first time she mentioned her Lord OR if she had mentioned Him on numerous occasions and this was the first time anyone listened to her.

Maybe this young girl had persistence--and Naaman's wife finally tired of hearing about her God.

Maybe this young girl had grit--talking about her God in a foreign land filled with foreign gods,

Maybe this young girl had the love of the Lord in her for her fellow man--and spoke boldly in an effort to give him relief.

Maybe this young girl had the Spirit of God resting mightily on her--causing people to bend an ear when she spoke or want what she had. 

But she spoke. People listened. Naaman was healed. God was glorified.

I wish that for all of us...that we speak up, that others hear what we have to say, that hearts are healed and that our Lord is brought all the glory!

 JESUS MAKES US RICH
Today's reading: Leviticus 10-12

"If a woman cannot afford to bring a sheep, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons..." Leviticus 12:8 NLT

Maybe you had noticed it, I hadn't.

Mary and Joseph brought a pair of turtledoves for Mary's purification sacrifice, as stated in Luke 2, to adhere to Levitical law.

I'd never thought about why doves until today.

It told us they were poor. Had they not been poor, they would have brought a sheep.

Mary and Joseph had nothing in the world, but Jesus.

Nothing of value. Nothing of worth. Nothing of benefit. Nothing of any quality. Nothing of any consequence on their own.

Like us.

Our only value comes through their Son.

Our only hope comes through their Son.

Our only way of escaping the penalty of death and the torture of hell comes through their Son.

In our poverty, if we have Jesus--we have all we need!

THE OTHER NINE

Today's reading: Luke 17-18

" Jesus asked, Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" Luke 17:7 NLT

Ever just sat flabbergasted at all God has blessed you with?

Health. Wealth. Family. Salvation. Friends. Creation. His presence. I could go on.

This morning is one of those types of times--I'm weepy over all He has given me.

Especially as I read about the ten lepers.

Too many days I am one of ' the other nine'.

I fail to notice all He's done. I hesitate to thank Him. I accept all He gives as entitlement. I errantly believe I've had a hand in anything I've accumulated.

But this morning? 

I'm thanking Him.

I'm talking to Him about all I appreciate Him doing for me.

I'm pausing long enough to gaze on the Giver, not the gift.

I'm allotting more time in gratitude than in asking.

This morning I'm 'the one'.