A Simple Maid, A Powerful Message!

If you’ve been following the readings, you can probably tell by now that I admire people of courage and conviction. I particularly marvel at the stength that some display who may appear to be insignificant. Such is the case of a little maid in the book of 2 Kings the fifth chapter:

“The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 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 5:1-3 (NLT)

This little maid, who had been taken captive, with boldness and faith spoke to her mistress words of life! She knew that if her master would go to see the prophet in Samaria (Elisha) that he WOULD BE HEALED!

Thsi reminds me of a passage in the book of Acts which relates the story of Peter and John being arrested for healing the blind man at the temple. Even after they were warned not to preach and teach about Jesus – their reply was:

“So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4: 18-20 (NLT)

What is in your heart, becomes who you are, what you speak, and what you live. The little maid had either seen or heard of the works of Elisha, and she believed that God moved through him in such a way that Naaman would be healed as well. Not knowing how her master or her master’s wife would react – she still brought forth the message of life.

Peter and John were not about to deny their Lord again. Strengthened by their living faith after being filled with the Holy Spirit, they rose up to those who had brought them before the Sanhedrin court for preaching in the name of the crucified Christ – and they boldly stated, that they “could not help but tell the things they had
seen and heard.”

Today I spoke to a colleague I have worked with over the years – I was showing her the website, even though she has let me know more than once what she thinks of my faith. Part of me said – leave her alone, she will never come to a faith in Jesus, she’s told you that. The other part of me remembered – I was once there – adamant about my conviction that Jesus was no more than a myth to keep black people oppressed – God in His mercy did not give up on me, neither did some very good friends – for that I am grateful. Shouldn’t I do the same for others? By the way, the first time Elisha told Naaman what to do, he didn’t do it – but after his lowly servants took courage and asked him to do it:

“So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.” 2 Kings 5:14 (MSG)

God Bless You,
Maria