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The Pilgrim Path (7-13-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---II Kings 5: 1 -5

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given the victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

A LITTLE GIRL

It is interesting the people that have influence in the lives of those we know. Several of us in my Senior Class worked for Billie. He had helped our Christian School quite a bit. Odd thing was, he was not a believer himself. He was a very hard-working individual---millionaire by 47. Said he worked while other folks slept. What really “got him” one evening: his son was crying, after having seen a flannel graph presentation on Heaven—at school. He realized his Dad was not going---because he did not belong to Jesus. His son was just a second grader. His son said, “Dad, I don’t want you to go to Hell!” Well---Ole Billie was never the same after that. The Holy Spirit began to seriously break him down concerning the weight of his own sin before the Holy God of Heaven. For the first time in his life, he started to “see” the necessity of the Cross---and the need of Jesus Christ. Not long after, he was gloriously converted. On the spiritual “birth-line” of this man---a second grader had a powerful role to play. Such is the story in Second Kings chapter Five (5). A young girl carried off in a “raid” by Syrians soldiers---touches the home of the Commander of their Army (Naaman). Spiritually speaking---she initiated some incredible activity in the life of one of the most powerful adversaries that Israel knew. It is amazing to see the LORD work---and to see the individuals HE may use. Sometimes it is a little girl:

---Even a little child may know a Big God

---Even Providential Losses (the girl was carried from her home) ---bring Big Opportunities for testimony (if we will use them)

---Even though the little girl was in Syria---she desired that her earthly master (Naaman) would be healed of leprosy (Talk about “doing” the Golden Rule---Matthew 7: 12)

---Even though the little girl was a captive-- you begin to think that Naaman and his wife would begin to treat her far differently “after” he was healed of leprosy?

---Even though the little girl might have been tempted by homesickness and discouragement---it is amazing---She is Salt and Light in Syria…Thanks Be to God

One Christian who is meek, humble, kind, patient, and useful unto all; that condescends to the ignorance, weakness and infirmities of others; that passeth by provocations, injuries, contempt, with patience and with silence, unless where the glory and truth of God call for a just vindication; that pitieth all sorts of men in their failings and miscarriages, who is free from jealousies and evil surmises; that loveth what is good in all men, and all men even wherein they are not good, nor do good---doth more express the virtues and excellencies of Christ than thousands can do with the most magnificent works of piety or charity, where this frame is lacking in them. For men to pretend to follow the example of Christ, and in the meantime to be proud, wrathful, envious, bitterly zealous, calling for fire from heaven to destroy men, or fetching it themselves from hell, is to cry, “Hail unto him,” and to crucify him afresh unto their own power. John Owen

Shepherd of eager youth,

Guiding in love and truth

Through devious ways---

Christ, our triumphant King,

We welcome thy name to sing;

Hither Thy children bring

Tributes of praise.

Clement of Alexandria (ca. 170-ca. 220)

Translated by Henry Martyn Dexter (1821-1890)

The LORD Keep and Carry You All, Pastor Jason