Today’s readings: 2 Kings 5:1-19; 1 Corinthians 4:8-21; Matthew 5:21-26

We have plenty of opportunities to change our minds. Naaman suffered from leprosy, yet when told to wash in the muddy Jordan to be healed, he refused. Naaman thought that dipping in the Jordan was beneath him. But at the urging of his servants, he changed his mind and was made clean. He was given the opportunity to change his mind and he did.

We are given many opportunities to change. The Corinthians had begun to backslide, so Paul sent Timothy with a letter to encourage them to change their ways so that when he got there he would be able to greet them with love in a spirit of gentleness rather than with a stick. They were given the opportunity to change.

We have many opportunities to change. Jesus tells us that if we are accused of wrongdoing, we ought to be quick to come to terms with our accuser before it goes so far that we end up in court and ultimately thrown into prison. When confronted with our sin, rather than become angry, it would behoove us to take heed and attempt to go in the way that we should go.

Prayer: May God grant that our hearts and minds be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Judy Mattson, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, FL.

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