May 30th | 2 Kings 5
What Is Keeping You From Being Made New?
My kids are 8 and 7, and like most siblings, they often fight. Initially, I simply corrected their behavior. A timeout here, a stern “act right” there. But I came across a parenting book that changed my perspective. It reminded me: more important than correcting behavior is shepherding their hearts. Disobedience often indicates a deeper heart issue, such as pride, selfishness, or a lack of compassion.
That’s true not just for kids, but for all of us. Our outward struggles often reveal deeper spiritual problems. That’s exactly what we see in the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. He is a powerful Syrian commander who had leprosy. He came seeking physical healing, but God revealed he needed something greater: a new heart.
Let’s look at three things that often keep us from being made new.
1. Your Sin
Naaman had it all—status, success, power. But Scripture adds this painful phrase:
2 Kings 5:1, “But he was a leper”.
This disease marked him, isolated him, and reminded him daily that something wasn’t right. We might not deal with leprosy, but we are all afflicted by something worse, sin. Sin separates us from God. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Genesis 3, we’ve lived in that separation. Like Naaman, we’re often blind to how serious our condition really is.
2. Your Pride
Naaman hears about a prophet in Israel named Elisha who can heal him. So he loads up gifts and goes, expecting to pay his way to healing. That is pride. We often think that if we do enough good, show up to church, or clean ourselves up, God will owe us something. But salvation doesn’t work like that.
When Naaman gets to Elisha, he doesn’t even come out to greet Naaman. He simply sends a message: “Go wash in the Jordan River seven times.” Naaman is furious. “Aren’t the rivers back home better? Doesn’t he know who I am?” That’s how pride works; it demands its own way, even with God. But God’s way is clear: humble yourself and follow Him.
As Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
3. Your Unbelief
In Matthew 8, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus. Unlike Elisha, Jesus doesn’t hide from him, but rather He reaches out and touches him. This is stunning. In the Old Testament, touching a leper made you unclean. But Jesus flips the script. Instead of being contaminated by sin, Jesus cleanses it. And that’s exactly what He does for us.
In Matthew 8:3, the leper asked, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus responded, “I am willing. Be clean”
Maybe you believe Jesus can heal you, but you doubt He wants to. The enemy whispers, “You’re too far gone. Your past is too dark.” But that’s a lie. Jesus not only can cleanse you, He wants to.
Sin separates. Pride resists. Unbelief doubts. But grace breaks through it all.
Naaman was cleansed when he finally humbled himself and put his trust in God. You can be cleansed too. Whatever your sin, shame, or brokenness, Jesus is willing. Will you come to Him?
