Today's readings are 2 Kings 2.1-18 and Ephesians 4.1-24.
Sometimes the Lord gives us scary things to do. In fact, that's one of the features of adult life that I think has provoked a lot of the extended adolescence we see in our society. There are responsibilities we take on which can make us uneasy. What if we marry the wrong person? What if we have children and then have financial troubles? What if that dream job doesn't show up? What if, what if, what if?
Elisha was following Elijah, knowing that Elijah was going to be taken away by God. Elisha's desire was to take on the gifts that Elijah had used. Elisha was willing to do those hard things for the Lord, including facing persecution, hunger, misunderstanding, and possibly eventually a painful death at the hands of his detractors. All this was quite possible. Yet Elisha stayed steadfast. Yes, life as a prophet of God is scary. But life doing the revealed will of God and bringing God's blessing on people is a very good life, even if it results in hardships.
What kind of scary things do we face in our lives? Do we realize that Jesus Christ has taken on every kind of temptation we face? Do we realize that death itself is a defeated enemy? Do we realize that our Lord has promised never to leave us? Do we realize that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers?
Yes, those things are scary. We all face them. But the one in us is greater than the spirit of this age. We can trust in the Lord, just as Elisha did.
Sometimes the Lord gives us scary things to do. In fact, that's one of the features of adult life that I think has provoked a lot of the extended adolescence we see in our society. There are responsibilities we take on which can make us uneasy. What if we marry the wrong person? What if we have children and then have financial troubles? What if that dream job doesn't show up? What if, what if, what if?
Elisha was following Elijah, knowing that Elijah was going to be taken away by God. Elisha's desire was to take on the gifts that Elijah had used. Elisha was willing to do those hard things for the Lord, including facing persecution, hunger, misunderstanding, and possibly eventually a painful death at the hands of his detractors. All this was quite possible. Yet Elisha stayed steadfast. Yes, life as a prophet of God is scary. But life doing the revealed will of God and bringing God's blessing on people is a very good life, even if it results in hardships.
What kind of scary things do we face in our lives? Do we realize that Jesus Christ has taken on every kind of temptation we face? Do we realize that death itself is a defeated enemy? Do we realize that our Lord has promised never to leave us? Do we realize that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers?
Yes, those things are scary. We all face them. But the one in us is greater than the spirit of this age. We can trust in the Lord, just as Elisha did.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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