The Flesh of a Little Child

One of the most interesting stories in the First (Old) Testament is that of a man named Naaman, about whom we read in II Kings 5. He was, we read, the "commander of the army of the king of Syria, [and he] was a great man with his master and in high favour, because by him YHWH had given victory to Syria." (v.1) Just a side-note that didn't come to mind until I had copied those words! The inspired writer attributes the successes of this Gentile (i.e. not of the Children of Israel) to YHWH, the God of Israel. With the presidential election day this week, I wonder if the candidate for whom I personally would be voting - Donald J Trump - is an unbeliever whom the Lord will use for His own purposes! He is the Lord of all of mankind, even if not all fully acknowledge Him as such! Actually, either candidate will be the Lord's choice - to bless the USA, or to bring judgement upon that great country!

Anyway, this familiar story of Naaman, the Syrian, was cited by the Lord Jesus himself as an example of the concern of Almighty God for all nations. "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." (Lk.4:27). It is also, we may conclude, a striking picture of salvation!

As we have noted, Naaman was a great and highly-acclaimed military commander. However, at the end of the verse at which we looked at the beginning of this post, we learn something else about him: "... but he was a leper." Yes, this "mighty man of valour"  was also stricken with an incurable, and loathsome, disease - the disease of leprosy. Similarly, any natural man, or woman, no matter how powerful, is afflicted with the lethal disease of sin. 

Then we may note that, before this important, and proud, official could be cured of his leprosy, he had to humble himself in several ways. First, he had to accept the advice of a slave girl from an enemy nation: "Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on 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.” (vs.2-3). 

Then Naaman had to journey to that nation and its prophet, whose God his own nation had repudiated: "So Na′aman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the maiden from the land of Israel.”  And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” (v.4).

Finally, he had to travel still farther at the word of the prophet (who would not even come out to meet him); and, finally, immerse himself seven times in the despised river Jordan. Though he resented being so humiliated, his condition was hopeless otherwise, so he finally did all these things, and God marvelously healed him! "So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of YHWH his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.  But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (vs.9-14)

 

Naaman's leprous flesh became, again, as the flesh of a little child. But first he had to manifest the obedient faith of a little child. The same principle is true for every lost sinner. 

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." (James 4:10). Jesus said, "... unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4).

Nothing but grace.

As some are aware, my wife and I spent a week on a cruise to the Norwegian fjords at the beginning of the month. We. had a lovely, relaxing, time - but, sadly, did not see the Aurora Borealis. That, I must confess, was a great disappointment.

Having been on one previous cruise to celebrate our Ruby wedding anniversary (actually, several months after the date!) we had some idea of what to expect on board.  What we did not expect was that, on the Monday evening, the Head Waiter in the restaurant to which we had been assigned for dinner, would ask if we would like to sit at the Captain's table, in a different restaurant, on the following, formal dress, evening! Those who recall the UK television series "Keeping up appearances" will understand when I say that Hyacinth would have been deep green with envy!! Anyway, we accepted and, on the following evening, dressed up "to the nines", we arrived with our Invitation Card, and were shown to the largest table in the room!

The menu was the same as that for the rest of the passengers, but the service was exceptional. There were eight of us at the table (not, as it turned out, with the Captain, but with the Purser!) and, each couple had their own waiter. This meant that, for each course, all eight plates were laid simultaneously! Class!!

While we awaited the arrival of the third of the passenger couples, I asked the other couple who were already there if they knew why we had been chosen. They had no more idea than had I! That set me thinking (yes, I do undertake this activity occasionally!). We had not paid for this privilege; we had not performed some heroic deed; we had not earned it. I realised that this was a good illustration of grace!

What is grace? Well, if you purchase a copy of my first book "Great Words of the Faith", there's a whole chapter dedicated to that subject. However, putting it simply, it is Almighty God treating us as we don't deserve. As a sinner, I deserve only His wrath, judgement, and punishment. But, because, in the Persona (see the chapter on "The Trinity" in the aforementioned book) of the Lord Jesus, He paid the penalty for my sin - and yours - on the cross of Calvary, I am freely forgiven, and accepted by Him as His child. 

Not only is there no cost, on my part, involved, but there are no conditions. Father God doesn’t even set out conditions that have to be met before He bestows His grace upon us!  As we accept Him, and the gifts of His grace, we do find that there are conditions attached – but these are more of a necessary response to His love than a prerequisite to receiving it.

Without cost; without condition; and without compare.  It is only by the grace of God that we can be built up spiritually; it is only by His grace that we can receive the inheritance of His children.  Incomparable grace – without compare in its make-up; and without compare in its measure. Writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, Paul states that “… the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”   “… the grace of our Lord overflowed …”  (I Tim.1:14).  That’s grace beyond measure!

And it’s without compare in its motive. Those of a certain age, and ecclesiastical background, may remember the first question in the Shorter Catechism?  “What is the chief end (the prime purpose, the 'raison d’être') of man?”  And the answer?  “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.”  There can be no greater motive than the glory of God.

Grace – without cost; without condition; without compare.  Grace: God’s own gift to undeserving sinners. May God grant to each one of us, by His grace, the courage, and strength, and faith, to respond positively to it, that we might appropriate all of its wonderful blessings and benefits at a personal level; and be found, in the company of all of His faithful people, giving all of the glory to Him.

An open door.

It's probably less common than it ought to be - and I have only experienced one such situation in all of my adult working life! - but, sometimes, a boss will make clear to his/her employees that, "My door is always open."

Now we know that that those words are not to be taken literally! There will be many times when the boss needs a certain amount of privacy because, for example, (s)he is working on sensitive information, or because an employee is being disciplined. We know that what the boss is really saying is "I am always available to you. I will listen to you.I will do what I can to alleviate any difficult situation." And the vast majority of employees will be grateful to have such an employer.

Have you ever noticed that, according to the Gospel records, the Lord Jesus was never asked, by the disciples, for a master-class in miracles; or a presentation on preaching; or a homily on healing? Indeed, there was only one such request made of Him: "He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”" (Luke 11:1; emphasis added).

Prayer! What an important practise for the disciple of Jesus! But what is it? Well it is, obviously, speaking - but it is speaking to Father God, in the Name of the Son (Jesus, the Christ), under the prompting of God the Holy Spirit. However, if it is, as some sceptics might suggest, merely "talking to the ceiling", then it would certainly be a waste of time and effort. But is this truly the case?

John records, in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus, the Christ: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the Holy One, the True One, Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut;” (Rev.3:7-8; emphasis added).

Now those highlighted words are generally taken as referring to opportunities to minister and evangelise for the Philadelphian fellowship. However, I believe that we may also take them as a more general reference to prayer. How many, in the persecuted church, know this truth. They may be denied a Bible, or even a few portions of the Scriptures; they may be physically isolated from their brothers and sisters in Jesus; they may be denied food, water, even sleep; but no-one can stop them from praying! No mortal is capable of shutting that open door!

When I come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, I know that I have an open door that no man can shut. And, unlike any earthly boss, I may take those words literally. It doesn't matter where I am. It doesn't matter what time of day it is. It doesn't matter if I am going to throw up a quick "arrow prayer", or whether I am going into a period of deep intercession. Always, His door is open.

And He always answers. Yes - always! I have often heard people claim that "I prayed, and God didn't answer!" I have also heard some say, joyfully that "God answered my/our prayer!" - the implication being that, on other occasions, He had failed to do so!

The truth is that we often think that our prayers have been answered only when we receive that for which we had prayed. However, no loving father responds positively to every request made. I am a father, and would not have done so with my children. Why not? Simply because of my greater knowledge, and experience, of life!

Father God is the one "from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named," (Eph.3:15), and He is infinitely more knowledgeable than any of His children. More than that, He can do what no earthly father can do - He sees all of time at once and so, He knows the future every bit as well as He does the past. And so, He sometimes answers our prayers with "No! I know that that is not for you." Other times, He answers with "Wait! This is not the right time." But always, He answers, as He brings about His perfect will and purpose.

And always, but always, His door is open to those who come to Him, not claiming anything of their own, but only the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. Let us pray!

Foundations of the Faith

It's another 5-Sunday month and, with no elections on the horizon, we revert to using this Sunday to promote one of my own published books. Remember, this is not done to line my own pockets, as ALL (not the 30% shown on the original front cover! I couldn't manage to paste the new cover here!) royalties are sent, directly, by Amazon to Release International, in support of the persecuted church in more than 50 countries worldwide.

This time, I wish to share with you, my second volume - Foundations of the Faith.

As with its predecessor, this book is written with ordinary people in mind. It started as a course of lessons for 15-year-olds in a Scottish Secondary School, and was adapted, and enhanced, for publication. In it, I take the well-known Apostles' Creed, clause by clause, and seek to make it more understandable. I have sought to deal with every aspect of the Creed, and have not shirked some of the difficult aspects. Because God the Holy Spirit is dealt with, in the Creed, with just the words: "I believe in the Holy Ghost", I have added appendices on His Fruit, His Gifts, and His Work.

These excerpts from the endorsements of others will, I hope, encourage you to purchase a copy for yourself. As with the other volumes, this book is available as both a paperback and a Kindle e-book. Links are available at the top of the blog.

Following up his “Great Words of the Faith”, this is a timely piece of very accessible writing from a respected and experienced writer, teacher and  preacher. …  It is accessible, scholarly, personal, and full of scripture reference. The difficult issues are not skirted but the fundamental truth of the Godhead is allowed to shine through.                                                            

                                                                                        Dr. Ken Cunningham, CBE, FRSA

 

"Foundations of the Faith" should help all of those seeking to follow the Way of the Christ to do so more faithfully, and in an informed manner.

Rev. Derek Hughes, B.Sc., B.D., Dip.Ed.

Brian articulates what he believes with freshness and clarity. It is clear that for him as for Berdyaev, the distinguished Russian thinker, Jesus is the starting point for learning Who God is, who we are, and what life is all about.

Very Rev. Dr. James A. Simpson

Of course, as we draw closer to the celebration (albeit at the wrong time of the year!) of the birth of the Messiah - the Lord Jesus - when we may wish to give gifts to family members and to friends, why not consider buying a copy for someone else?!