Today’s Reading

Second Kings 4-5; John 4:1-30

Selected Verses

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:15

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. John 4:28-30

Reflections

Naaman, a Syrian general who came down with leprosy, learned from his Israelite servant girl that there was a prophet in Israel who was known to perform miracles. Certainly Elisha’s record is comparable to that of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Among other things, Elisha raised a dead boy and fed a large crowd with a small portion of food. The details are interesting, but, suffice it to say, Naaman was healed and learned that there was not merely a miracle-working prophet in Israel, there was a God in Israel, One who is uniquely God in all the earth. Naaman was not just healed of a deadly disease. He became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman at a well in Sychar. The conversation is fascinating and reveals so much of the love and wisdom of Christ. At the conclusion of the discussion, the woman leaves her water pot and heads off to town to tell everyone about the Jewish man whom she suspects to truly be the Messiah. The whole town turns out to meet Him.

Think about it

God saves the most unlikely people, a Syrian general and a Samaritan woman with a bad track record for marriage. Are you another unlikely convert? If so, give thanks for His mercy to you. Do you know anyone who needs Christ but seems to be a hopeless candidate for salvation? Do not lose heart or stop praying. God is able to save whomever He calls to Himself.

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission