Simple But Not Easy

Mark Batterson post: Difficult Things vs. Simple Things

"If the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn't you have done it? So why not this simple "wash and clean"?

Remember the story of Naaman in II Kings 5? The prophet Elisha told him to dip in the Jordan river seven times in order to be healed of his leprosy. Naaman didn't want to do it because it was too simple. He wanted the prophet to wave his wand. And when it didn't happen the way he expected it to, he was about to walk away and forfeit the miracle when a wise and bold servant spoke truth into his life. He knew Naaman would do something difficult to get healed. But would he do something simple?

Can I make an observation? The reason why we don't see miracles ISN'T because we're not willing to do difficult things. It's because we're not willing to do simple things. It is good old-fashioned obedience that sets the stage for miracles. That is all God asks. If we do the simple things, like dipping in the Jordan river seven times, God will do the difficult things. If we do the natural things, God will do the supernatural things. If we do the obedient thing, God will do the miraculous thing.

In the world of athletics, you never outgrow the basics. You have to practice simple skills over and over again. Same is true spiritually. You never outgrow the basics! You have to be great at simple things--the spiritual disciplines.

Oswald Chambers said it this way: "It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional at ordinary things."