Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." (2 Kings 5:3) During the days of Elisha there lived a mighty Syrian warrior.  Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, by the power of God, had been victorious.  However, Naaman had the dreaded disease of leprosy.   On one of the Syrian raids a little Israelite maid was captured.  By the providence of God she became a slave in Namaan’s household.  This young maid was in possession of a treasure of which Namaan had no knowledge.  She knew of Elisha, the great miracle working prophet, which could surely heal her master of his leprosy. From this young lady we learn that some times help comes from unexpected places.  A little maid, a foreigner, a captive, a slave, accidentally introduced to Namaan’s household, initiates a series of events that lead to a great healing.  Children of God must never underestimate their wonderful potential.  In God’s kingdom, many “nameless heroes” have accomplished great things for the cause of Christ with the slightest word or smallest deed.   From this maid we see the power of youth.  She had been removed from the comforts of home, yet she has not forgotten her faith.  She has every reason to cry “victim”, but instead she finds a way to serve.  It would have been easy for her to excuse herself because of her young age, but instead she found a way to be useful. The secret to her usefulness was her great faith.  She trusts in God to take care of her.  Because of her captivity, she could not help her master, but she believed in a prophet who could.  Do others see our faith in times of difficulty and discouragement?  Is our faith in God manifested by our passionate devotion to His work?  If our faith is real, it will be seen in our daily life. What are you doing to minister to others?  A word of warning to the godless or encouragement to the faint hearted may be all that is necessary to set them on the right path.  Even if you can do nothing to meet the need, you can certainly show them where the blessings can be found. By George Slover

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, (1 Timothy 2:8-9)

The operative word here is “godliness”.  It suggests a lifestyle directed by a strong desire to please God.  Jesus states the same principle in the gospels: “'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' “(Mark 12:30) Here is one so devoted to God that his daily ambition is to reflect God’s moral purity. (I Peter 2:9)  Their purity is reflected in what one says or does, the places they go, and the way they dress. 

The apostle uses three other words that describe the godly woman.  First, she must dress “modestly”.  The Greek word “kosmos” means to be well arranged.  But, what does that mean?  A harlot may dress in a well arranged fashion, but she is certainly not professing “godliness”. (Proverbs 7:10)

Second, she must have an attitude of “propriety”.  The King James Version says with “shamefacedness”.  The idea is of one bound by a sense of shame.  Unlike the loose world around her, this woman is bound by her profession to God.  Because of her keen sense of godly purity, she would blush if she knew she caused anyone to look upon her nakedness. (Jeremiah 6:15)

“Sobriety” is the third attitude described here.  It means to be “serious minded”.  This woman carefully and prayerfully considers what she wears.  She not only represents God, but she may have an impact on others.  Her goal is to look like God and not like the world.

In Titus Paul describes those women “adorning the doctrine of God” as “discreet” and “chaste”.  (Titus 2:5,10)  Let me plainly say that when the neckline is so revealing that she continues to cover her nakedness with her hands, or when her attire is so tight that it leaves little to the imagination, then one has failed in the guidelines we’ve discussed.

Women who focus upon serving the Lord, who reflect a gentle and quite spirit, who serve others and especially their families, and who are known for their purity of life and demeanor, are precious indeed!  These women have nothing to prove, for they have become all that God wants them to be.

By George Slover


 

that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10-11)

The phrase “approving things that are excellent” suggests “recognizing the highest and best”.  According to Moffatt’s translation: “enabling you to have a sense of what is vital”!  The NIV simply says: “discern what is best”.

When one grows in knowledge and discernment, he is able to recognize what is best.  It can be a great deterrent to one losing their faith.  Love rightly guided brings out the best in one’s character.  One who is sincere has an undivided heart that realizes the impossibility of uniting the pursuits of the world with the pursuits of God!  Several applications are worthy of consideration.

So, how do you use your time?  There is nothing wrong with occasional leisure and fun. (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13)  Our Father made this world; and his children, of all people, should know how to enjoy it.  However, if the leisure causes one to lose sight of the spiritual, he will miss what is essential and best.  (Ephesians 5:16,17)  Take time for God, to pray, worship, and meditate.

What about your body?  It is certainly beneficial to exercise the body. (I Timothy 4:8)   God designed the body for certain physical pleasures.  However, it is best to use your body and life to pursue godliness.  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Furthermore Solomon says:  “There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.” (Proverbs 21:20)  There is nothing wrong with working hard, being a good steward, and enjoying some of the things of this life. However, it is better to work hard so you can give to others,  (Ephesians 4:28)  especially for the work of the Lord!

What about your prayer life?  Is it wrong to make requests of God?  Of course not!  (Philippians 4:6)  It is better when one’s petitions are coupled with thanksgiving.  However, the highest prayer is one that submissively yields to the will of God.

Bible reading and study is of tremendous value.  (I Timothy 4:13)  It is even more beneficial to meditate on Scripture.  (Psalms 1:1,2)  Hiding God’s word in our heart can be a great deterrent to sin. (Psalms 119:11)  However, when one becomes intimately acquainted with God, the author of the Bible, and implicitly trusts His every command, it is best.

In our religious aims one must obey God to be saved.  (Hebrews 5:8,9)  However, it is better to lose oneself in God’s will out of a desire to glorify Him.  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9)

In each of these areas we need to recognize what is best.  This is not just intellectual.  It is a growth of love- love of God to better understand Him, love of Christ to better appreciate Him, love of man to value his soul, love of heavenly things to enable us to seek what is most important.

By George Slover
 
 

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12)

The above passage is among many bold claims made by the apostles of Christ – i.e. “our message comes from God and not from man”.    Other such claims are found in John’s writings:  “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.”  (Revelation 1:1)  Peter makes a similar claim:  “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)  These are bold claims!

However, the apostles, through the power of God, offered evidence to back up those claims.  “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12)  Surely such signs were done in the presence of their enemies.  Had they not been convincing, the apostles would have lost all creditability!

In addition to the signs they performed, the apostles readily abandoned long held beliefs and practices of their former religion.  These men, before preaching Christ, followed institutions that had been in vogue for more than 1500 years – i.e. animal sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, and many other traditions of Moses’ law. Not only did the New Testament writers abandon such treasured beliefs, but so did thousands of other Jews!

What compelled them to make such a dramatic shift?  Instead of animal sacrifices they honored Jesus as the Lamb of God.  Instead of Sabbath keeping, they assembled on the First day of the week.  And instead of following a physical king, they honored Jesus as the spiritual ruler of their hearts!

Such compelling evidence gives one every reason to believe, and no reason to doubt the validity of the New Testament and its authors!  Christ is risen indeed!  Christ is Lord!

By George Slover
 

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:27-28 NKJV)

As an Apostle and servant of Christ, Paul also served as a model for evangelism.  Paul was a suffering saint and prisoner of the Lord.  All of his strivings were motivated by man’s greatest cause – the cause of Christ.  In his life’s work, Paul can be a model for us. 

The subject of his preaching is Christ.  Paul says: “we proclaim Him”!  His message did not consist of vain philosophy or religious tradition (Colossians 2:8).  Thus, our mission is to uphold Christ – to proclaim his death, burial, and resurrection, to draw portraits of His life, to herald His grace, and to clearly spell out His demands.

The scope of his preaching is all mankind.  Paul says, “We admonish every man”.  C.S. Lewis stated: “There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal.  Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.  But it is immortals whom we joke with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”  What a sobering thought.  No one is safe without Jesus!  All men are accountable to God.  Thus, our mission is to generously scatter the seed.

The method of Paul’s preaching is practical instruction – “warning and teaching”.  The goal must be to convict the sinner of his guilt (Romans 3:23), and encourage them by the offers of the gospel.  The terms of pardon are "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 20:21) This also includes submission to God in baptism.  (Acts 2:28)

The goal of gospel preaching is to present every man perfect in Christ.  The work of the preacher is to mold lives and develop character.  Redeeming the sinner of guilt and saving the eternal soul are important, but the work is not finished with conversion.  It only begins there.  In fact the eternal goals will not be realized unless one grows on toward perfection in Christ.

It was to this work Paul devoted all of his energy.  It is to this same ministry Christians are also called.  There is not a more important endeavor.

By George Slover