How can we apply Naaman's humility to our daily walk with God? Meeting Naaman at the River “Then Naaman and all his company returned to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’” (2 Kings 5:15) What Humility Looked Like for Naaman - He laid aside rank. A celebrated commander addressed Elisha as “your servant.” - He accepted simple instructions that wounded his pride (dipping seven times in the Jordan). - He testified openly, crediting God alone for his healing. - He tried to give thanks tangibly, recognizing he owed everything to the Lord. Why God Honors This Posture - James 4:6—“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” - Isaiah 66:2—“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word.” - Luke 18:14—“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Practical Ways to Walk in Naaman-Style Humility Today 1. Start the day confessing need. • Acknowledge dependency before achievements crowd your mind (Proverbs 3:5-6). 2. Obey promptly—even if instructions feel “too ordinary.” • Forgive (Ephesians 4:32). • Serve quietly (Matthew 6:3-4). 3. Credit God publicly. • When complimented, steer praise upward (Psalm 115:1). 4. Express gratitude tangibly. • Give generously, seeing resources as gifts (2 Corinthians 9:11). 5. Keep learning from unlikely sources. • Naaman listened to a captive servant girl; we listen to Scripture, mentors, even children (Matthew 18:4). Heart Checks for the Journey - Do I resist “small” commands because they seem beneath me? - Do I bristle when others receive credit? - Do I celebrate God’s work in others as freely as I acknowledge it in my life? Encouraging Promise “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) Following Naaman’s example keeps us close to that mighty hand—where cleansing, guidance, and exaltation are found. |
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