Corona Devo 827
What if we knew that today was our last day?
How would we spend it?
Training/teaching/living-for-God--in the hopes of passing on a legacy in Christ?
Elijah lived his very last day the exact same way that he lived his other days--listening to God and believing in God's power and authority...and investing in others for Christ.
For Elijah that meant mentoring Elisha. Many prophets watched and learned from Elijah's faith (Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. ~2 Kings 2:7), but Elisha was the one that God put on Elijah's heart to mentor, lead, and build into.
Jesus had many admirers, students and onlookers, but (only) twelve were his specific assignment from God to teach intentionally and to "do life" with.
Heavenly Father, we can't affect or influence the whole world for You, but who can we invest and build into today? Please open our eyes and hearts to our "Elisha" and make us bold in sharing Your Word and ways with a watching world. Amen.
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When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. (2) And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.
(3) The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
“Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”
(4) Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho.
(5) Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
“Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.” ~2 Kings 2:1-5
My husband likes to deliver his love to us in surprises: surprise gifts, destinations, even surprising punchlines. And out of love and respect for him, we (happily) enter into the process. Even if we have an inkling of what is "behind the curtain", we keep it to ourselves to honor him and what he is doing for us. Elisha guarded Elijah the same way.
Elisha and the group of prophets knew that Elijah was living his last day and twice they spoke to Elisha about it, but out of love and respect for Elijah, he shushed them--not wanting to take any of the awe away from Elijah.
Lord, thank you for reminding us in Your Word that sometimes there is more love and respect in our silence than in our knowledge. Amen.
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Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. (8) Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! ~2 Kings 2:7
What if we boldly believed and trusted God to show up in our lives today, like Elijah did? Does it sound ludicrous to us that Elijah asked and believed that God would divide the water?
We love the Lord, we believe in Jesus, but we rarely count on Him to show-up-big for us. What if we did?
What if we believed bigger today, like Elijah?
What amazing acts-of-God are we missing out on simply because we don't have faith deep or bold enough to ask and believe?
Too often, we decide what God can and can't do and then live and pray accordingly.
Believe bigger today! Faith like that is ours for the taking...or, rather--for the believing and for the trusting.
Lord, forgive us for the little box we keep You in. Those who believe big experience You big. Increase our faith today, Father. Elijah knew what would happen when he struck the water because he believed You could divide it. Help us to believe bigger. Amen.
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(11) As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven...
(13) Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. (14) He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
(15) When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. ~2 Kings 2:11, 13-15
Elijah and Elisha trusted in God's power in their normal daily lives, they plugged into it, and thus, they experienced it.
What if we did?
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What if today was our last day?
Let's believe bigger in the God Who can, and we will see that He will. And may our boldness increase as our faith and trust and experience of God increases. And may we pass it on.
Blessings,
sarah
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