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The human desire for spectacle over substance plagues our spiritual lives. Like Naaman, the Syrian general who arrived at Elisha's door expecting grand ceremonies for his healing, we often want God to perform for us on our terms. When Elisha simply instructed Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River, the proud commander nearly walked away in disgust. How could something so mundane cure his leprosy?

This reluctance to embrace divine simplicity mirrors our modern spiritual struggles. We create elaborate religious performances—salvation ceremonies, grand entrances, public displays—rather than submitting to God's straightforward prescription. Only when Naaman humbled himself and followed the prophet's instructions did his skin become "like the flesh of a little child." The transformation was undeniable, visible to everyone who knew him.

After his healing, Naaman made a remarkable declaration: "Now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel." This proclamation, made before his entire entourage, demonstrates true conversion. Yet even then, he immediately tried to pay for his healing, revealing how deeply the transactional mindset was ingrained in his thinking. Elisha's firm refusal teaches us that divine grace cannot be purchased or earned through gifts, rituals, or performances.

The question for all who claim spiritual transformation remains: Is your change visible to others? Naaman couldn't hide his healing—everyone could see the difference. Similarly, authentic spiritual transformation should be evident in our lives. Have you truly changed, or are you merely wearing religious fig leaves while bearing no fruit? The prescription for salvation remains remarkably simple yet profoundly challenging: complete surrender to God's way through Christ alone. No negotiations, no terms, just humble obedience that leads to genuine transformation. Will you dip seven times in the Jordan?

Welcome to One Shalom! We are two young adults who have a burden to share the shalom...

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