The world around us seems to crave power. It doesn’t matter if the political level is local, provincial or national, there is hunger for more power. History bears witness to the powerful controlling the powerless. Almost 2,600 years ago, 2 Kings recounts, Naaman and the king of Aram used military power to subdue others.
However, God’s actions did not rest with the powerful but with a nameless slave girl. She had been ripped away from her family and community, taken into a foreign land and forced to serve in the household of Naaman, the commander of the army who had destroyed her life. How did she respond? She reached out in concern for the well-being of those she now served. Because of her, Naaman was healed and declared, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)
We, who often look at the happenings in the world and feel powerless, can follow the example of this nameless child. We can reach out in concern through acts of kindness to those around us. We can also support Canadian Lutheran World Relief and local agencies that serve others.
Surprising God, continue to remind us that it is not with horses and chariots, but with acts of lovingkindness that we show your power. Amen. — VSR