Naaman The Honorable

Naaman The Honorable by Kirk Hunt

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

2 Kings 5:1 NKJV

Despite being a general in the army of the pagan Syrians, Naaman was an instrument of God’s will.  Being a great and honorable man (or woman) does not mean you are sinless.  Leprosy, long a symbol or analogy of sin in human lives, changed the viewpoint of others.  Naaman’s grateful king (historically, Ben-Hadad II) saw him less as a national hero and more as a dangerous threat to his own health and wellbeing.

Even today, Naaman’s leprosy can serve as an object lesson:  Being good and moral is not enough.  Christians, God’s people, must live more than clean lives.  We must live separate from the sin that can so easily taint and contaminate our lives.

Despite all of his achievements and benefits to the Syrian King and nation, Naaman lived as a separated pariah.  Even his wife would have shunned his immediate presence, or merest touch.  Naaman’s bacterial infection defined him more than his courage, valor or noble character.

The sin in your life defines you more than your generosity, virtue or clean living.  Some souls who see your taint and contamination will shun you as one of the unredeemed.  Other souls will seek to drag you further into the worst of sinful living.

Leprosy, the disease, can be cured.  Sin, the corruption of your soul, can be cleansed and avoided through the salvation of Jesus Christ.  I pray you are honorable, but know it is more important to be sinless.

Think:      Honorable is good.  Sinless is better.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to live sinlessly through Your Holy Spirit and power.”

 

Copyright © February 2019, Kirk Hunt

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