When you were a little kid, did you ever dress up or pretend? Maybe you “borrowed” your mom or dad’s clothes, feeling grown-up as their apparel hung bulkily on your small frame. Perhaps you confiscated a large bath towel to be your super hero cape. What about adapting odds-n-ends laying around to dress up like community professionals – firemen, policemen, doctors, scientists, store clerks, movie stars, prince(ess), etc.? But have you ever dressed up to get better at being you?

Let’s explore this fascinating idea – getting better at being you. It’s a healthy way to live.

Tear Into It – Get Better At Being You

First, I suggest – check out our initial content that launched Scripture Dissection materials: Tear Into It. That article explains how and why we introduce Scripture dissection exercises periodically.

You may wonder if it’s Scriptural to get better at being you. Actually, God’s Word makes a strong case it’s God’s plan to get better at being you. Jesus wants you to embrace personal daily growth.

Let’s explore a man from the Old Testament who learned to get better at being his true self.

So, now look up 2 Kings 5:1-15 in your Bible for a full story. For today’s purposes, here’s a bullet backstory of developments in my words.

Get Better At Being You – Scripture Dissection

This familiar story about Naaman has secret life lessons tucked-in everywhere!

• Apparently, Naaman is a valiant soldier and leader – “great in the eyes of his master,” the king of Syria. (v. 1)
• Interestingly, he also holds some kind of favor with God. V. 1 says, “because of him (Naaman), the Lord had given victory to Syria . . .”
• Naaman has leprosy.
• Previously, during a Syrian raid, a little girl is carried off from her home country to Syria to become a servant to Naaman’s wife.
• This nameless young girl tells her mistress Naaman could be healed by a prophet of God.
• Naaman’s wife tells her husband this message. He, in turn, asks his master, the Syrian king, for permission to go to Israel and seek healing.
• The king mistakenly assumes Naaman will go to the king of Israel, so he composes a message – king to king.
• When Naaman’s party arrives at Israel’s king’s court, Israel’s king is panicky, tears his clothes, and suspects motive to spark conflict between the two nations.
• Elisha hears about this and tells the king of Israel to send Naaman to him. Relieved, the king “forwards” Naaman and the Syrian king’s message.
• Naaman and his full entourage – with lots of expensive gifts – go to Elisha, God’s faithful servant.
• Elisha sends his servant to give Naaman instructions to be healed: “dunk yourself in the Jordan River seven times.”
• Naaman is insulted and angry. Elisha doesn’t even come to the door. He sends his servant! So, Naaman decides to go back home. What a wasted trip!

 

But There’s More

• Servants of Naaman appeal and gently reason with him. “Why not try it? We’ve come all this way.”
• Naaman decides to listen to this appeal and dunks in the Jordan seven times.
• When he comes up after dunk number seven, he is completely healed.
• Through this experience, he gets better at being himself as he recognizes what God has done for him.

 

Let’s Tear Into – Get Better At Being You

There are always four categories we explore in Scripture dissection:

1. What Does It Say?
2. What Does It Mean?
3. Make It Personal
4. Make A Commitment.

 

1. What Does It Say?

Scripture points out Naaman is respected, valiant, and trusted (a great man). Incidentally, something about this man gives him favor with God. He is a high-level servant to the Syrian king. However, Scripture also reveals – this great man needs to grow – to change.

Naaman is arrogant (prideful). And he has a temper (easily angered). Subsequently, God wants to help him get better at being himself. And God wants Naaman to know Him personally.

Contemplate with me – God loves Naaman. He’s given him success in his career. But since God designed Naaman’s life, He knows Naaman can be even better. Essentially, Naaman can more accurately reflect the power and glory of God – even in the pagan culture he lives in.

To help bring needed growth, God allows circumstances to showcase Naaman’s pride and anger. He allows Naaman to be humbled and provoked. Using an infliction and a humiliating remedy, God exposes need for growth.

Another thread we’ll pull on is how God powerfully and effectively uses His servants. In this story, He uses a little girl, Elisha, and Naaman’s servants – to lay a path for a world leader. Other than Elisha, the other key servants in this story remain nameless.

2. What Does It Mean?

When considering Naaman’s credentials, Scripture praises him richly. This man is considered great. And his master is the king of Syria. So Naaman is at the top. And the “eye-catcher” is – God favors Naaman enough to give him success before Naaman knew God.

There’s something about this man that’s special. Fascinatingly, God uses Naaman’s leprosy to expose root issues that hold him back. Essentially, God wants him to be free and truly powerful whether he is sick or well. To be himself. God wants Naaman to live in his design and give glory to God.

Greatness in God’s estimation always begins with humility and reality.

Growth Is Personal

Growth always takes place the moment you address life situations, face-to-face, with both your strengths and weaknesses. You are gold and clay in this broken world. One day you’ll be simply – golden.

When life situations expose weaknesses of character or undesirable motives, you face a growth opportunity. And it’s unique to you. Incidentally, this opens a door to get better at being you. Of course, this requires humility.

This personal growth option is yours.

Growth Is A Miracle

When Naaman is healed, he is not restored to his pre-leprosy condition as a man. He’s given the flesh of a child (Scripture says). In other words, the healing is so rich and deep, he’s restored closer to perfection. All because he humbled himself, set aside anger, and opened his heart to God.

We are all servants of God. However, God sees servanthood differently than people. A servant of God is a position of highest honor. Incidentally, God welcomes you quickly when you connect with Him by faith. Then He trains you in your true identity, uniqueness, and purpose. He makes you like Jesus and invites you to be His “partner in ruling” your life domain. In other words, you are promoted to be a high-level servant – like Naaman . . . and better yet – like Jesus.

This miraculous growth option is yours.

3. Make It Personal

You are special. God wants to favor you. Consequently, as you humbly accept God’s design and purpose for your life, you (like Naaman) can become a high-level servant.

Things often don’t go well in life – not God’s fault. However, high-level servants work to change the world.

Since your value is eternally secure through Jesus, your “work” is to adopt God’s design and purpose. God’s opinion shapes history – and your life. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions of you. Choose to live as a high-level servant of the Great King.

 

Make It Personal means –

• Come close to God.
• Get rid of pride.
• Set aside being easily angered.
• Live your life with purpose.
• Be a high-level servant as you rest in God’s favor.

 

Essentially, all this happens as you fully surrender to Jesus. And He’ll train you to get better at being you.

Explore

How do you respond when you feel threatened or judged? Incidentally, this is the moment to grow. As you identify roots that are unlike Jesus’ character, you can change with God’s help to be a high-level servant. “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (Jas. 4:10) Yes, God wants to raise you into the person He designed.

“I know the plans I have for you . . . to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11)

Healthy people know they must continually grow to be their best. Subsequently, growing means changing – often uncomfortable. And growth happens as you let go of agendas, preferences, ideals – everything – and simply obey God.

Growth also happens when you seek it. Here are some action steps:

• Look for directives in Scripture to apply.
• Engage challenges. Go after them.
• Receive accountability. Don’t resist it.
• Train and develop your responses.
• Enjoy good things in life.

 

Be a high-level servant of God. Get better at being you.

4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions

As you explore being a high-level servant, here are some question to consider.

1. What’s in the way of you being a high-level servant?
2. Have you accepted your need to grow?
3. What root motives need to be changed?
4. Will you train and lean into God’s favor?
5. Do you believe God designed you for something great?
6. Where are you proud and easily angered?
7. Do you want to be healed – like Naaman?
8. Why not surrender to God and become a high-level servant?
9. You can help change this broken world.

 

As we close, check these recent articles to help you effectively be yourself:

• God Purposefully Picks You.
• Your Incredible Design

 

This content contains excellent proofs that God picks you.

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