Do you live like you are in the majority when you are a minority?
9 May 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
1 Kings 19
1 Kings 20
John 2
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6).
Do you live like you are in the majority when you are a minority?
Elijah exhibits the unmistakable characteristics of burnout. He had just done battle with the prophets of Baal and then “ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46), which would be an approximate twenty-mile run. Next, Jezebel warns Elijah that as he had executed the prophets of Baal, she would “make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:2). The man of God loses his spiritual nerve. God encourages the prophet by manifesting His power and presence. After passing before Elijah, He displays His person and works through a mighty wind, earthquake, and fire, communicating with Him with “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12).
Employment Point: Seek God’s renewing power and presence after spiritual battles.
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Reflections
Spiritual battles can indeed be tiring and exhausting, both in body and in spirit. But let’s not forget that we have the Lord who continues to fill us with living waters, so we will never thirst and will always be renewed every morning.
“So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.””
1 Kings 19:2 NIV
- the beginning of what Jezebel says sounds really familiar for many people of God spoke like this as well.
- But it becomes a reminder to us too, not to be intimidated by others or by what they say to us. We have a God who is greater and bigger than any problem or god in the world. What is there to fear?
“The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.”
1 Kings 19:15 NIV
- Elijah was running away from fear and yet after the Lord stood with him and made him experience all the greatness of nature: powerful wind that tore mountains apart and shattered the rocks, an earthquake as well as fire, there came the voice of God that told him to go back where he came from. I’m sure it was a daunting task for him.
- Many times we too are like Elijah, running away from fear, something that we think is above us and too much for us to handle. Yet, the Lord usually asks us to face it head on. Not because we have the ability to but because He is with us and has that strength to sustain us, just like how He sustained Elijah and providing him with physical food that gave him energy.
- Ultimately it comes down to trust. To always trust in the Lord to guide and to provide.
“Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
1 Kings 19:20-21 NIV
- at first I cannot understand why Elisha wants to go back to say goodbye. However from the verses, it seems like Elisha immediately understood when Elijah put his cloak around him and He went back to settle the things that may be left pending if he just left like that.
- He burnt the plowing equipment and also slaughtered the oxen. To me, it is way of also saying that he is done here.
“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””John 2:3-5 NIV
- in this famous parable where water was turned into wine, I see this as something I did not really pay attention to before. Mary, who is Jesus’s mum kind of knows that Jesus has the ability to provide solutions. If the family ran out of wine, it would be really embarrassing. Jesus had not done a single miracle up till this time but Mary knows who he really is.
- I would think Mary does have so much faith that she just knows that Jesus is able to turn things around and even command the servants to follow whatever Jesus told them to do.
- perhaps that’s the same for us too. That we ought to boldly ask of Christ for we know Him as well
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Grasp without Reach
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
May 09
Where there is no vision, the people perish. — Proverbs 29:18
There is a difference between an ideal and a vision. An ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision does. People who give themselves over to ideals rarely do anything. People who have vision are constantly inspired to go above and beyond.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what’s a heaven for?
—Robert Browning
An idealistic notion of God may be used to justify a neglect of duty. Jonah argued that because God was a God of justice and mercy, everything would be all right, no matter what Jonah did (Jonah 4). Jonah’s idea about God was correct—God is just and merciful—yet this was the very idea that stopped Jonah from doing his duty.
If we have a vision of God, we will lead a life of virtue, because the vision brings with it a moral incentive. Ideals, on the other hand, may lull us into ruin by causing us to lose sight of God. When we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We stop exercising self-control; we stop praying; we no longer look for God in the little things. If we are eating out of our own hand—doing things on our own initiative, never expecting God to come in—we have lost vision and are on a downward path.
Is your attitude today one that springs from a vision of God? Are you expecting him to do greater things than he has ever done? Is there freshness and energy in your spiritual outlook? Take stock of yourself spiritually and see whether you have vision or merely ideals.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
To those who have had no agony Jesus says, “I have nothing for you; stand on your own feet, square your own shoulders. I have come for the man who knows he has a bigger handful than he can cope with, who knows there are forces he cannot touch; I will do everything for him if he will let Me. Only let a man grant he needs it, and I will do it for him.”
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Reflections
If I were to look at ideals, perhaps it is also to do with some action but I think we are looking at the motives behind those actions.
Say if I want to complete devotionals but my motivation is that I want to faster finish and watch dramas, then that motivation is not a correct motivation in that sense. But If I want to complete devotionals and the motivation behind is truly to share God’s word, then I guess I would somehow have the right motivation that is pleasing to the Lord. Ultimately the Lord looks only at the heart and not our outward actions.
I believe the Lord will cause a stirring or give us a vision of what He wants us to accomplish. We need to keep that in mind and constantly keep it in check so that we do not be led astray from the path He has built for us to walk. It may just be too easy to overlook, causing us to walk out of alignment bit by bit till we didn’t even realise we are already out of alignment.
The Lord is gentle to correct and remind but we too, need to know where we stand, and what is causing us to fall away. Those are the factors or things that may stumble our faith and also are the things we ought to be careful of.
Remember the Lord in all the small things, give thanks for all the goodness and the blessings He has given to us and trust Him even more. We should be on a journey where our faith grows and not get diminished.
Let’s pray:
Father thank You for the blood that redeems us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Only You have the ability to make us white as snow, giving us a fresh start every morning. Lord we want to grow and to be able to carry out the visions You have placed in our hearts. Grant us willing hearts and the perseverance to be able to follow through and be blessed by Your grace and mercy. Thank You Father. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen 🙏🏻
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