TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a]
2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents[b] of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
2 Kings 5:1–14
DEVOTIONAL
by Elder Chris Beltran
Naaman was the commander of the king of Syria’s army. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because the Lord had given Aram victory through him. He was a brave soldier, but he had leprosy. In his household, there was an Israelite slave girl. Knowing that her master had leprosy, she told her master’s wife, “If only my master sees the prophet in Samaria, he would be healed of his leprosy.” (Please read the whole passage.) We know in the end that Naaman was healed of leprosy because of her referral.
Why did the great Naaman listen to a mere slave girl’s advice? The Bible did not mention, but most likely, the girl served her master with loyalty and faithfulness. She must have shown kindness to them and influenced her master to heed the advice.
Leadership is not really about titles or positions; leadership is all influence. Meeting people’s needs and being kind are winning formulas to attract people to the Lord. Love others, be kind to them, meet their needs, express compassion, and live a Christ-like life. One may not consider oneself a leader, but in Christ, we are called to lead people to God.
There is a place for technology and organized evangelism for creative witnessing. But the most potent form of witnessing is still the simplest: sharing what Jesus did for us. We can opt not to overcomplicate things with more programs, gadgets, projects, and responsibilities. More is not always better. We can simplify things, like the Israelite slave girl who told her master about the prophet who can heal.
In the business world, or in society itself, it is complicated to invite people to church. However, people may go because of curiosity about the changes in their Christian friends’ lives. They will find it hard to resist the invitation because of the kindness extended to them. On the other hand, the most significant resistance to not wanting to attend church is the bad testimonies of Christians with sinful lifestyles. Why would they be attracted to Christian life if they see no difference in us?
We praise God for the ministries of the eloquent televangelists. Through Christian TV and radio, the gospel is being broadcasted to places we could never reach. At the same time, we also hear many testimonies about how people came to know Christ as simple ordinary people willing to live and lead a Christ-like life. They are able to attract people to go and see who this Jesus is.
REFLECTION
What do people say when they talk about us? Are we shining for the Lord or just for ourselves? We need to live our lives carefully. Pursue a Christ-like lifestyle—be kind and compassionate—so that people who observe us would want to have what we have—a new life in Christ. Be bold to share His love with others.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the song, “Let them see Christ in me.” This song is my prayer to You, Lord. “Jesus is so real to me. I see him through the eyes of faith. I have felt his presence near in the moments of each day. Yet so many do not know of the love he longs to give. O, how will they come to see Christ and believe? Let them see Christ in me. Let them see Christ in me. Let me be his eyes of compassion and his ears to hear their need. Let them see Christ in me. Let them see Christ in me. Let me be his heart of boundless love. Let them see Christ in me. People struggle all alone in the darkness of this world, some imprisoned by their greed, and some have given up all hope. Let the Word be flesh again in my life, and in my deeds that people may see Jesus and believe.” Amen.
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