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Even a Child, August 9
2 Kings 5:1-4
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.
2 Kings 5:2
.
A slave, far from her home, this little maid was nevertheless one of God’s
witnesses, unconsciously fulfilling the purpose for which God had chosen Israel
as His people. As she ministered in that heathen home, her sympathies were
aroused in behalf of her master; and, remembering the wonderful miracles of
healing wrought through Elisha, she said to her mistress, “Would God my lord
were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his
leprosy.” She knew that the power of Heaven was with Elisha, and she believed
that by this power Naaman could be healed.
The conduct of the captive maid, the way that she bore herself in that heathen
home, is a strong witness to the power of early home training. There is no higher
trust than that committed to fathers and mothers in the care and training of their
children. Parents have to do with the very foundations of habit and character.
By their example and teaching, the future of their children is largely decided.
Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that
the promises and commands of God awaken in the child gratitude and reverence;
the parents ... who by teaching the child to love and trust and obey them, are
teaching him to love and trust and obey his Father in heaven. Parents who impart
to the child such a gift have endowed him with a treasure more precious than the
wealth of all the ages, a treasure as enduring as eternity.
We know not in what line our children may be called to serve. They may
spend their lives within the circle of the home; they may engage in life’s common
vocations, or go as teachers of the gospel to heathen lands; but all are alike called
to be missionaries for God, ministers of mercy to the world
He who sent ... the little Israelitish maiden to the help of Naaman, the Syrian
captain, sends men and women and youth today as His representatives to those
in need of divine help and guidance
[228]
11
Ibid., 244, 245
.
12
The Ministry of Healing, 473
.
236