God’s Ways

Naaman the Syrian consulted the prophet of God as to how he could be cured of a loathsome disease, the leprosy. He was bidden to go and bathe in Jordan seven times. Why did he not immediately follow the directions of Elisha, the prophet of God? … In his mortification and disappointment he became passionate, and in a rage refused to follow the humble course marked out by the prophet of God. “I thought,” said he, “he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” His servant said: “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash [merely], and be clean?” Yes, this great man considered it beneath his dignity to go to the humble river Jordan, and wash. The rivers he mentioned and desired were beautified by surrounding trees and groves, and idols were placed in these groves. Many flocked to these rivers to worship their idol gods; therefore it would have cost him no humility. But it was following the specified directions of the prophet which would humble his proud and lofty spirit. Willing obedience would bring the desired result. He washed, and was made whole.13Testimonies for the Church 2:309, 310.

Our plans are not always God’s plans…. In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition…. Many things He ask us to yield to Him, but in doing this we are but giving up that which hinders us in the heavenward way….

In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.14The Ministry of Healing, 473, 474.
Conflict and Courage p. 228
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Richard who fell and broke his hip. Rose
—-Please pray for me. My husband is acting like he is otally demobn possessed. Anon
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Dear Friends,

When we lived in Washington state, Ron got interested in telescopes. We couldn’t afford a new one, so he searched the newspaper ads until he found someone who was selling a used one. Ron bought a reflecting telescope. A reflecting telescope gathers the light from the object being viewed reflects it onto a highly polished mirror which in turn reflects it to a smaller mirror that is set in such a way that when it reflects the light, it reflects it into the eyepiece. We had so much fun with that scope! Most nights would find Ron out gazing into the night sky viewing the moon, planets, stars or galaxies.

We are to be like a telescope reflecting the love of Jesus to those we meet—if we have the love of Jesus shining in our heart. Do our family, our friends, our work associates, even the strangers we meet for one brief moment see Jesus’ loving character shining through us? If not, perhaps we are beholding the things of this world too much. Perhaps the “care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” are choking us spiritually. Matt 13:1-23 There is a little children’s song that is so true. The first verse tells us, “Read your Bible pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” The second verse shows that the opposite is true. “Neglect your Bible forget to pray and you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.”

Only through study and meditation of the Scriptures, only by constantly beholding the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” can we properly reflect Him to others.” John 1:9 As we behold His great love and sacrifice for us, our heart is filled with love and gratitude to the One Who loves us so. We “are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18

Our Dear Saviour declares, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16 “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.” Luke 11:35,36 Daniel prophesies, “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Dan 12:3 Solomon exclaims, “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Prov 4:18,19

May we daily reflect the warmth of Jesus’ love as we behold Him in His Holy Word. May we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” May we “do all things without murmurings and disputings: That [we] may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.” Phil 2:12-16.

Rose