“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. (Proverbs 12:22)” I believe that can be translated gender neutral to be culturally appropriate these days. Truthful lips reminds me of one of the major changing points in my life. I went to my first women’s meeting in the desert of Kenya. I drove a carload of women and nearly drove over a black mamba crossing the road that reared up to strike! The women offered me milk mixed with blood – we were not in the USA! But the speaker was an older missionary who focused on the little maid girl of the wife of General Naaman in 2 Kings 5. As the older woman spoke she drew simple pictures of this girl, captured in battle and taken to a foreign land, serving. Naaman had leprosy. The little Israelite girl says to her mistress, “if only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” The little girl led such a life of integrity that the woman believed her, told her husband, who told the king, who sent Naaman to the prophet Elisha and was cured. All because a little girl, a victim of war, was honest. Of course the old woman turned to her audience and asked us if we were people of integrity. It was a moment of truth and the awareness of the impact of a great teacher. My life was changed.
Even at a young age the young girl in the story knows God is her first priority and is able to cure – even an enemy. Not only are her priorities right, they are integrated with her actions. A casual comment changed history for all the people in the story. Today we will make many casual comments. Are we people of integrity? Is God our first priority and thought as we encounter others? Blessings as you go about your day.
On the Way to Wonder 