Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.
God of healing and hope, through Elisha you healed the commander, Naaman, when he bathed in the Jordan. Heal the sicknesses in our souls and in our bodies, so that we might be blessed to be a blessing to the world, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verses from Sunday’s reading.
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away. 2 Kings 5:10-11a

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.
Elisha was a mighty prophet who took over when the prophet, Elijah, was taken into heaven by heavenly chariot. Elisha performed many miracles for the people of Israel and for people in neighboring nations. Like so many before him, Elisha’s blessings became, in turn, blessings to the nations of the world. God blessed Israel so that the whole world would be blessed. Elisha’s miracles were no exception. In this miracle of healing, the commander, Naaman, nearly missed the opportunity for healing because he was too proud to believe that Elisha’s course of action for healing would work. He did not believe Elisha’s God would heal him by a simple bathing in the Jordan River. But God did heal Naaman, and Naaman became a believer and follower of God. He returned to his homeland, Aram, with two mule-loads of Israel’s dirt so that he could worship God on Israelite soil, even when living in Aram.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.
Follow the story of the miracles of the prophet, Elisha.

• Sunday, 2 Kings 5:1-27 Elisha Heals Naaman
• Monday, 2 Kings 2:13-18, Elisha Succeeds Elijah
• Tuesday, 2 Kings 2:19-25, Elisha Performs Miracles
• Wednesday, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil
• Thursday, 2 Kings 4:8-37, Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son
• Friday, 2 Kings 4:38-41 Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew
• Saturday, 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men

What kinds of miracles did Elisha perform? How did these miracles serve God?

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• Who in your community stands out as one who will stand up for the oppressed, poor, or silenced? How might you support such a person in their work?
• What miracles have you witnessed? Where have you seen God at work in the world this week?

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.
Visit someone who is sick. Bring a meal, send a card, or simply sit and visit.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.
God who blesses all, help us hear your word and obey it. Amen.

Copyright © 2014 Clergy Stuff.. (Study section adapted) Used and adapted with Permission. Find more at www.ClergyStuff.com. Blessing written by Pr. Chip Borgstadt. Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.