and beautiful as that of a little child, incredibly at first, and then as the truth dawns upon him, with a great joy flood ing his heart. Naaman nearly missed his chance. How often do we ignore the thing that is simplest, and turn elsewhere. Your change of heart and mine, may depend on our doing the nearest thing, the simplest thing, the homeliest thing. God may be calling us, not to go to Africa and convert the heathen, but to curb a bad temper; not to preach great ser mons, but to humble a proud spirit; not to be more active in the church, but to cast out an impure habit. Alice was a very diligent wife and mother, rather house-proud and a pains taking Christian. She was conscious of certain frustrations, spiritual problems and difficulties in her life. Too often, high words at the table, led to someone’s going out and slamming the door. Mild, quiet Arthur had gone to work on several occasions, the victim of a sharp breakfast-table rejoinder. Quite fre quently she thought of these things and it worried her. At last she plucked up courage to talk the matter over with a Christian friend. The friend advised her to go home and pray quietly for a day or two about it and then ask God to tell her His will. “ When you’ve prayed,” she said, “ take a piece of paper and jot down what comes.” Alice took her friend’s advice, went home and began. Let her tell her own story. “ I went home,” she said, “ determined to get victory in my life. Early next morning I got out my Bible, paper and pencil and sat down. After reading a bit, I asked God to tell me what was wrong with my life.” Alice went on: “ I im agined that as I sat quietly there, I should receive some celestial impulse, perhaps I should have a vision of some kind; in any case I hoped to get comfort and help, but the only thing that ham mered its way into my brain was ‘Don’t nag your husband.’ Rubbish! I don’t nag dear old Arthur. I thrust the paper and pencil away and tried next morning with the same result. I was disgusted and disappointed. The day was wet and cold and as six o’clock came round I got the fire up and waited for Arthur’s step at the door. At last I heard his key. I went into the hall to meet him as he opened the door. ‘Hurry up and get those boots off before you spoil the carpet,’ said I. ‘Don’t nag your husband,’ flashed into my mind. Before I had given him a word of welcome, of love, my house-pride had asserted itself. A score of little sharp things I had said came to mind. I was sorry. God was right. I had heard His voice.” It may be the little thing close at hand that God wants us to put right. So Naaman is cured and departs for home. We may imagine his arrival. Day after day, his wife and the little maid had been looking out of the windows with the southern aspect, their eyes on the ribbon of white road vanishing into (Continued on Page 27) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
with our Lord Jesus Christ? The little maid was faithful—what about you? God’ s Readiness to Bless Immediately after Elisha had heard of Naaman’s mission, he saw that God had a purpose in bringing this famous soldier to Samaria. You see, the prophet knew God so well that he believed He was willing to bless a foreigner and a heathen, although he came for material help only. God took Naaman as he was and led him to something better. So with Jesus, you will remember in the case of the boy possessed by the dumb spirit. The poor father had come seeking material aid and ends with the moving words: “ Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief;” again, from mere material aid to spiritual assistance. So it is always with God as He waits continually to bless: Always we find Jesus taking pains to show His Father’s readiness to receive the sinner. Surely this is the truth which underlies the greatest of all short stories—that of the lost son in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. Indeed God is able, ready and willing; the pre requisite is our sincerity. I wonder if as we dwell on this point it comes to any of us here that there are things in our lives we have to put right in order that God may work His perfect will in us? We are much in the same position as Naaman: “ are sick unto death” with sin and we need to avail ourselves of the cleansing blood of Jesus. In our story, the coming of Naaman as a result of the little maid’s faithful witness, furnished God with the oppor tunity for which He was waiting, to show His power through His servant Elisha. That power, available for Naaman, for thousands down the ages, is available today, for you. The Deliverance o f Naaman Naaman was in the position of a drowning man clutching at a straw. One could imagine that he looked for little or no spiritual result from his journey. He was sick of a mortal illness and there was hope in Israel. At least, he would try it. His arrival at the poor house of the prophet is a matter for consideration. One can imagine the brilliant entourage moving rapidly along with the clatter of horsemen and the rattle of accoutre ments. Naaman, himself, standing in his chariot, driving his own horses, a hand some figure of a man still, in shining breastplate, sword on hip, curled beard, arms and legs shaven to elbow and knee, a brave picture of barbaric splen dour and pagan pride. His somewhat chilly reception is disappointing but finally Naaman, for all his high and mighty ways, for all his rage, listens to his servant’s good advice and humbles himself. Down he goes into the water; down he goes seven times, and lo! he is cured. One can well imagine his looking at his flesh, clean “ Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be.”
which moved her tender heart, the old folks away in Samaria—Elisha, who could make the sick well and bring com fort to the sorrowing. He had even raised a dead boy to life. If Elisha and Naaman could only be brought together! The Holy Spirit of God had been pre paring her heart in the silent watchings of that summer evening. It is a beautiful aspect of the story that the little maid had only love for her mistress. The natural reaction of the captive is resentment. There is no trace of it here. Her thoughts are all for help ing her master, and her young heart was filled with pity. She remembered her God and His power; she was ready to witness to His greatness, though so far away and among strangers. Just think what her coming meant to the home of Naaman; it became a changed home. Homes always change when God is allowed to take charge. One would like to see displayed more often, the old-fashioned: Her advent meant, not only his physical, but also his spiritual salvation—just the work of a little slave girl, and he the commander-in-chief of the armies of the king of Syria. This aspect of the incident is positive proof of the willingness of God to work through the humblest chan nels if they are pure and consecrated to His service. We used to sing the lovely hymn: “ When He cometh, when He cometh, to make up His jewels.” In that day we shall find that often He has entrusted to the little, weak hands of boys and girls, tasks that grown men would have felt honored to perform. Sometimes God really speaks directly to the heart of a man through a child. The sixteen-year-old elder daughter of a couple lay in a hospital awaiting a serious operation. A few hours’ time would decide if she would live. It was one of those fifty-fifty chances. Sitting at her bedside, the mother was weeping and father in little better ease. The girl’s pale face lay on the pillow surrounded by her dark hair. Her serious eyes glanced from one to the other of her dear ones. “Don’t cry, Mummy,” she said, “ if I get through, I shall come back and live with you and Daddy. If I don’t, I shall go and live with Jesus. So either way, it’s all right.” Relating the incident afterwards to the preacher, the father admitted that it was the great trust of his daughter in a time of crisis which won him for Christ. What sort of witness are you giving? You love God, you are a Christian. Like the little maid of Israel, you are in a strange country. Every day of your life you mix with men and women who are ungodly, pagan, even wicked. Are you doing anything to bring them into touch Page Twelve Christ is the head of this house, The unseen guest at every meal, The silent listener to every conversation.
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