To Be Used of God

This morning I was continuing in reading from the Book of II Kings and read about the Naaman. He was a captain that God had used to bring deliverance to Syria, but he was also a leper. There was a captive of Israel, a little maid that made all the difference in the life of Naaman. In II Kings 5:2-4 it says, "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel."

As I read those verses I thought about how that she was unnamed, a captive, described as a "little maid," and despite all those things her assurance and hope in what God could do through man of God to help Naaman led "one" to and tell the king all that she said. What amazed me even more was that because of that the king sent money and a letter to the king of Israel! As the story goes, Naaman went to Israel and was healed of his leprosy! Before he left for home "... he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel:..." II Kings 5:15.

I remember years ago when my children we all still pretty young, that my husband took our youngest
son out soulwinning for a Big Day - that was the event at church - our goal was to try to get as many people in church so they could hear the Gospel and be saved. Jon was about 6 years old and dressed in a clown costume to attract the attention of children so he could invite them to church. One of the homes they visited was that of a man whose wife was a Christian, but he had refused to leave his religious beliefs and trust only in Jesus as His Saviour. Jon, a six-year old (adorable boy if I do say so myself), explained to this man the simple difference between trusting in the Lord or his religion, and the huge difference in where he would spend eternity - in heaven or hell. At the end of the conversation that man trusted the Lord as His Saviour! His wife was so happy and exclaimed how amazing it was that God used a six-year old boy dressed in a clown's costume to finally reach her husband!

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart through my reading this morning, that God can use anybody, of any age to bring hope to a lost and dying people. The ingredients for being used are simple.

1. Present your sincerity - Those around you should be able to see that you are real-that your relationship with God is real, and that you walk your talk.

2. Possess compassion - The little maid showed her compassion (that she cared) by the fact that she said, "Would God" indicating it was a prayer of her heart. Jon showed his compassion by going out door to door - you won't do that if you don't care.

3. Proclaim the Hope - both Jon and the Little Maid spoke up - they knew the answers and were not afraid to tell others.

The blessing in these truths is that you don't have to be rich, you don't have to live in a big house, you don't have to "have" anything...you can be and do these things no matter where you are in your walk of life.

My song for today: To be used of God, to sing, to speak, to pray. To be used of God to show someone the way. Oh I long so much to feel the touch of His consuming fire. To be used of God is my desire.

What a joy rings in my heart as I see those that God has used, and realize that I too can be used of God!

Have a wonderful day!