Thursday: From Rejection to Redemption

Reading: 2 Kings 5:15-19; Romans 10:8-13

2 Kings 5:15-19 “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing.” Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.”

‭‭Romans 10:8-13 “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””

After his healing, Naaman made a stunning confession: "Now I know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel." A Syrian general—Israel's enemy—became a worshiper of the one true God. This is the heart of the gospel: God pursues the unlikely, the undeserving, the unexpected. You can be a good person and still be rejected by God, or you can be a humble person and be forgiven by God. Salvation isn't about moral performance; it's about surrendered hearts. Naaman couldn't earn his healing through valor or wealth. Neither can we earn salvation through good works. Confession and belief—these are the doorways to redemption. 

Today, remember: God doesn't want your résumé; He wants your repentance. He doesn't need your credentials; He desires your confession that Jesus is Lord.

The Blood - Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson, feat. Mitch Wong