But his (Naaman’s) servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet (Elisha) has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash and be clean?’ “- 2 Kings 4:23
As Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 4 of AHA, he tells the story of a time when a handyman came to hang a light fixture in the Idleman’s kitchen. When the work was completed, the handyman went to flip the switch. Nothing happened. Rewiring didn’t solve the problem. Eventually, Kyle realized that the handyman wasn’t flipping the right switch. So Kyle walked over to flip the correct switch. The light came on.
Sometimes when we’re in the midst of adversity, we need a Christian friend with a healthy perspective to flip the switch- to tell us the truth. That happened to Naaman in the Old Testament. Afflicted with leprosy, he came to the prophet Elisha prepared to earn his healing. Naaman pictured his healing going down in a grandiose way- not a simple bathing in the Jordan River. His servants pointed out the simple truth: just trust.
Pastor Idleman notes that often we are the last ones to see the hard truth in our lives. In addition, even in our close relationships, we tend to speak 95% of the truth. But what needs to be said is that last 5 percent!
Today’s question: What resulted when a trusted Christian friend took time to flip the switch in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Brutal honesty”
