SAINT JOHN OF GOD, RELIGIOUS (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

. . . a little girl. 

Have you ever looked at a famous painting and at first glance, it appears to be almost ordinary? But then you look closer, and you see the artist’s use of shadow and light, perspective, and contrast—and the scene comes alive before your eyes! Today’s story about Naaman is like that. It all starts with a little girl—an unlikely hero—and yet she plays a major role in Naaman’s miraculous healing. She shows that the small and the humble can bring great glory to the Lord.

Why is this? It’s because the small and humble aren’t prone to drawing attention to themselves. All they want to do is follow the Lord; they don’t worry about whether people see it or not. The scene with the little girl moves us because it comes from such an unexpected place, a place of purity, sincerity, and simplicity.

Don’t you love how God reveals himself through unlikely people and circumstances? The Bible tells us about Gideon, the youngest of the least of the families of Israel, who leads his people to victory. There is Ruth, a widowed and impoverished foreigner, who wins the heart of a wealthy Israelite and becomes part of Jesus’ family tree. And there’s King David. This heroic leader was just a young shepherd boy when the Lord chose him.

In a similar way, God can use you to reveal himself. You may not be wealthy or powerful or famous. You may feel that you don’t have a lot of control over your circumstances either. But none of that matters to God. In fact, you might be just the right person he is looking for. Just as he worked through a little girl to change the course of history, he can use you to bring powerful change to the people around you.

Whether you’re doing the dishes, shoveling snow, or filing papers, you can be a vessel of Jesus’ love and grace. A simple word of encouragement, spoken from a heart of love and trust, can do far more than you can imagine. Just ask that little girl who set Naaman on the road to healing!

“Lord, use me to reveal your love today.”

Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
Luke 4:24-30
2 Kings 5:1-15

WORD AMONG US