It’s not easy being a leader, especially when it comes to bringing other people to Jesus. Think about the young Israelite girl mentioned in II Kings chapter 5. Soldiers from the country of Aram had kidnapped an Israelite girl, whom Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army, then had given to his wife. She lived with them and served them. She prepared food and helped with other tasks around the house.

I’m sure the girl was fearful and homesick at first, but she made the best of a bad situation. She listened to her master’s instructions. She learned about the family she was serving. And it’s possible she grew to love them. How else can you explain what she did? Naaman was sick with a terrible disease called leprosy. One day the young girl said, “If only my master would see the prophet (Elisha) who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman followed her advice. He traveled to Israel and met the great prophet. Elisha told Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times. When he reluctantly did this, his flesh was restored and became clean like the flesh of a young boy. Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”

I have a neighbor named Jeff. He and his wife have two young children, and they don’t attend church. When they moved next door last year we became friends. We ran and rode bikes together. We talked about our jobs and our children. One day he asked if I wanted to go riding on a Sunday morning. I told him we were going to church. He told me that he had gone to church as a boy but didn’t have time any more.

After we left, I thought about the Israelite girl who witnessed to Naaman. I had listened to my neighbor talk about his life. I had learned to know him and his family and over time had grown to love them. I realized that in one way, he’s a lot like Naaman. He’s got a disease and it’s worse than leprosy. It’s called sin. I also realized that I have a solution to his problem. I know about Jesus and His love. I know that Jesus has paid for the sins of all people. I know what I have to do. I’m going to invite him to church next Sunday.

Daniel Madson is a former school teacher and now a member of Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.