He Wants You! One of the finest tributes ever paid to a man occurs in 2 Kings 4:9. The prophet Elisha had visited the home of a Shunamite woman who suggested to her husband that they establish a prophet's chamber. She reasoned with her husband in this fashion, "For I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually." Dr. Vance Havner wrote a personal illustration regarding this text. He said, "In a former pastorate I walked a lot. Along my route there was a grocery store. The grocer said one day, "Preacher, I want you to know that many a time when things were not going well, I looked out my store window to see you passing by, and it helped. I felt better because the man of God had passed by." In Acts 13:36 we read of David, "And David served his generation by the will of God." A good question is suggested by that text. Is there anybody better off because they know us? We all met people we would have been better off never knowing. Occasionally a believer will come along who blesses us just by passing near to us. The ambition of every Christian should be to imitate the ancient prophet. Luke tells us that when Jesus was on His way to Jericho, somebody told blind Bartimaeus, "Jesus of Nazereth passeth by." Well, He is still passing by but not as then. He passes by in His people and preachers. He has no hands but our hands; no feet but our feet; no voice but our voices. If this world reads the Gospel, it'll likely be the gospel of you and I for most of them don't read Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. Then some of you may be passing the Lord by. Remember, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, not a slap. Jesus is still being betrayed more often today with kisses than with slaps. The very same people, who give Him a respectful little kiss, never get around to really following Him. Jesus is passing by you. Isn't it about time you reached out to Him by faith and took hold? He's not interested in a tip of the hat, or a polite kiss with no meaning. He wants you!