Beyond the Weekend

April 17 | Grace

April 17, 2019

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Then Naaman … went back to the man of God…and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:15-16

Read: 2 Kings 5:15-16

Listen: 2 Kings 5

TODAY’S MESSAGE

As a successful and powerful man, Naaman is used to going to powerful people to buy and negotiate for what he wants. That’s how he approaches God—with silver, gold and a letter from his king. Imagine how stunned he is when Elisha won’t accept payment for his healing. Naaman has some things to learn about God. So do we.

God wants to both know us and to be known. When the Gentile Naaman goes to Israel for healing, it’s an opportunity for God to reveal himself to a man who worships idols. As Naaman is willing to humble himself and through faith, bathe in the river, God heals him and is revealed.

Like Naaman, we can think that to receive life from God we must have to do something whether it is by never lying, having perfect behavior, or performing acts of charity. But the apostle Paul tells us that we can never do enough on our own. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). That’s why Elisha refuses Naaman’s gift. That’s why Jesus died for our sins. Watch this video clip below as Pastor Jeff Manion explains grace.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Grace is hard to receive because it relies on faith. Like Naaman, if grace is new to you, pray and tell God, “I believe Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sin. I accept his gift and want to live with him as my boss.” If you’ve said this prayer, email us at btw@adabible.org so we can encourage you in your next steps.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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