What an Example!

Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3 (NKJV)

There are so many things that stand out to me about this little slave girl. She was taken captive from Israel by Syrian soldiers and brought to Naaman’s home to be a personal servant to his wife. Given just that much information one would imagine an embittered person. How easy it would be to rejoice at the thought of her master having leprosy and chalk it up to God’s judgment. But that was the farthest thing from the truth with her.

Although her own life had taken a blow with loss of freedom and family, she was aware of the needs of another person and sympathetic about those needs. She actually WANTED Naaman healed! Her “if only” statement expressed a longing and desire to see God intervene on this person’s behalf. Her compassion for Naaman was matched by her unwavering faith in the God of miracles. Having lived her formative years in Israel, she was aware of the miracles God had performed through Elisha. I am sure they were the bedtime stories many Israelite children heard. Her childlike faith was as huge as her presentation of hope.

The story of this little girl has challenged me this morning. I want to be like her and see the answer to any need as being found in Christ. Can you imagine the impact it would have on a person if we witnessed to them with “if only” statements full of compassion and faith? Faces of individuals are coming to mind who live each day without the Lord. Am I as desirous as she to introduce them to the One who can forgive them, change them, and set them free? Will I dare to take their hand, look them in the eye, and speak such words as, “If only you knew Jesus. He would completely change your life!” This will not happen if I see witnessing as simply introducing someone to my religion. But oh how it changes if I decide to introduce them the Person of Christ. Not a doctrine, not a denomination, not set of standards, but a Person! How convinced am I that He really is the only way, truth, and life for them? My speaking up or remaining silent answers that question.

Father, today’s topic makes me squirm because I have remained silent far too often. My hesitancy to say, “If only you knew Jesus,” to a person in need of Him reveals so much to me. Change me! Amen.