Child of the KING

Identification. It arrives the moment we are born. Ownership is established, and we belong to someone.

“Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.”
2 Kings 5:2 (ESV)

In 2 Kings, we meet a little girl without a name but not without a purpose. God had predestined her steps just like He does ours, but her circumstances seemed discouraging.

All that she knew as comfortable was now foreign. She was alone without an identity.

This little girl landed on the distinct pages of God’s Holy Word with a divine appointment. She was an Israelite. Her heritage exposed her to the spoken and written Word of God. (Bible Trivia Fact: MacArthur Study Bible states during this time, she would have heard the Pentateuch, the book of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, many of the Psalms, the Proverbs of Solomon, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.) Within her short life-time, she experienced evidence of the promises of God, truth of His provisions for His people, and the covenant God had made to Abraham (Genesis 17:4).

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 11:19 (CSB)

God has a predestined plan for our lives, and He had a plan for this young girl. He placed her in the household of Naaman, a commander in the army of the king of Aram. Naaman was highly respected because of his military success and his position with the king’s court. The little girl was positioned in the service of Naaman’s wife where she could be mothered by the motherless.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Despite her age, she set an example by her faith and by her love. Her heart noticed her master’s burden–Naaman had leprosy. Because of her faith, paired with her confidence in God’s prophet Elisha, she shared the love of God.

One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:3 (NLT)

What encouragement I receive from this sweet girl. She understood what it meant to fulfill the law of Christ at such a young age. We are called to love God and love others, and she demonstrated that with such boldness and compassion as she told Namaan’s wife where her master could go to be healed. Through this, she testified to the healing power of Yahweh through the prophet Elisha’s obedience.

This young girl, nameless in the pages of Scripture, saw a need and gave what she had, faith and love. Within her attitude of service, she was serving God, her master’s wife, and her master. What a reflection on her parents and her family. I’m sure her heavenly Father was smiling. 🙂

Because of her obedience, Naaman not only received physical healing from the leprosy; Naaman also received spiritual healing. Naaman found God!

Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel”
2 Kings 5:15 (HCSB)

Naaman had a new identity.

She saw God at work and joined beside Him. Oh, what we can learn from this young girl.

Do we do everything for an audience of one?

Are our motives selfish, seeking affirmation from others?

Throughout my own personal quiet time, God has been consistently repeating to my spirit, “Only for Me Heather. Only for Me.” I am so thankful for this little girl’s boldness in her obedience. She lived for an audience of One! She was a slave with very little earthly possessions, if any.
However, she knew God and wanted to share Him with others. That heart possession is more precious than gold.

As believers in Jesus, we can offer a new identity to those around us with the gift of eternal life. Naaman was freed not only leprosy of his skin but of his heart. We, too can share the hope of Jesus that comes from being His disciple.

 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)

Look for God around you this week. Seek out the needs of those around you. Set an example like the servant girl with your faith, love, speech, behavior and purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Time to Unfold

• • Read God’s Word: Read His Word with a compassionate lens.
  • Pray: Ask Him to reveal the burdens of those around you. Pray for them.
  • Do: Be obedient in helping carry the load of the burdens fulfilling the law of Christ.  

 “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will find fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (HCSB)

• • Repeat. Don’t grow weary of doing good; I am linking arms with you. 🙂

Seeking Him,