2 Kings 5:1-3

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram.” vs. 1

Back in the early years of our faith community, centuries ago when stories first began to be written down, folks had a broader concept of God than many believers have now. For example in today’s text it is acknowledged without comment or explanation that the Lord had given victory to Aram through a Syrian general called Naaman. The country that Naaman had defeated was Israel! Even those who thought of themselves as God’s chosen people knew that God was at work in all nations. Later on Isaiah, a Judaean prophet, acknowledged Cyrus, the King of Persia, as the messiah. Nowadays religious people of all types are forever trying to turn their particular faith into a national religion. When they succeed the results are always repressive and divisive. What they forget is that God can use people of every faith, and even those of no faith, in establishing the much anticipated peaceable kingdom. Wherever peace and reconciliation take place, wherever the hungry are fed, wherever justice is established, we can be confident that great people are present and God’s work is being done. Our God is always bigger than any of us can even imagine!

Thought for the Day: How does God use Americans for accomplishing good in our world?