God's Grace is Priceless
«But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD liveth, I will surely run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.»
«And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.»
Promise and fulfilment
The Old Testament hinted that true healing and God's blessing are not for sale, and that human greed stands in opposition to divine work. It revealed the necessity of a pure, selfless love for the transmission of God's grace.
This promise is fulfilled in Christ, who selflessly dedicates himself to suffering and bestows healing without expecting anything in return. He reveals that God's reign operates not through human transactions, but through unconditional love and the power of his word, as seen in the liberation of the demon-possessed man.
Let these verses remind you to take your own Bible in your hands, read them there again and, if you wish, continue a little further. Holding God's Word in your hands also gives you a precious moment away from the digital world.
Do not read the Bible in one long run, but passage by passage: one text, unhurried, asking the Holy Spirit for understanding. Whoever tries to swallow everything at once loses the overview. Whoever takes one passage each day will see the whole picture over time.
The connection
While in the Old Testament, human greed, even in the proximity of a prophet like Elisha, still proves destructive and contaminates God's grace through self-serving actions, Jesus in the New Testament demonstrates that God's salvation is unconditional. He confronts suffering and uncleanness directly, not to profit from it, but to liberate and heal, purely out of love and divine authority.
Reflection
Yesterday, we reflected on God's priceless gift of life, which is given to us in Christ. Today, we see another side of human nature: the temptation to profit from God's blessing. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, could not bear his master's generosity. He saw an opportunity to enrich himself where his master had shown grace. His greed led him to lie and deceive.
Often, we ourselves are tempted to gain an advantage from spiritual matters or from God's favour, be it through reputation, power, or material gain. Yet Jesus shows us a radically different path. He encounters a man tormented by an unclean spirit, living among tombs and harming himself. This man is the embodiment of suffering and ostracism. Jesus does not hesitate to meet him. He speaks a single word of authority, and the spirit must depart. There is no negotiation, no price, no quid pro quo. It is pure, unconditional grace that turns to misery and bestows healing.
This story reminds us that God's love and healing are not for sale. They are a gift that we may receive without having to do anything for it. Let yourself be inspired today to extend grace without expecting anything in return. Be a channel for God's love, free from selfish motives, and experience how his power works through you.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, I thank you for your unconditional grace, which is priceless. Forgive me where I am tempted to profit from your blessing or to put my own interests above your love. Help me to have a pure heart today, one that gives your grace without expectation. Let me be an instrument of your love, turning to suffering and bringing healing, just as Jesus did. Amen.
The thread
After seeing God's priceless grace in the raising of the girl yesterday, today we illuminate the human temptation to profit from God's blessing, and how Jesus meets this with pure, unconditional grace. Tomorrow, we will look at how this liberated person responds to Jesus' work.
Receive and share God's priceless grace today – it is for you and through you.
If you would like to keep your daily answers in a journal, sign up for the online coaching.
- You are guided through the Bible: Old and New Testament, step by step.
- You see the prophecies and where they were fulfilled in Christ — and you grow into them.
- You are not overwhelmed: you learn to understand the Bible practically, like in a Bible study.
- On request you receive reminders: if you have been lazy for a few days, a gentle reminder brings you back.
- You can keep a journal — with everything: with God's nearness and with all the impressions you have.
Your journal, the daily Bible path, today's questions — all of it is free to use. Signing up only needs your first name and email address: no credit card, no further data. Day by day, your journal shows you how your thoughts and your perception change.
Sign up for free