Today’s Reading:
2 Kings 2:1-12 (v. 6)
“Then Elijah said to him, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jordan”, but he said “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” (v. 6)
Three times in verses 2, 4 and 6 Elijah asks Elisha to stay where they were while he journeyed on as commanded by the Lord: first from Gilgal to Bethel, then from Bethel to Jericho, and finally from Jericho to Jordan. At both Bethel and Jericho there were schools for the training of prophets, virtual seminaries for training young men to teach the Word and use their gifts for the Lord. Elijah was evidently the head of these schools and God was undoubtedly sending him to bid them farewell and to encourage them in their work before he was taken.
Elijah requested Elisha to stay behind because he did not want anyone to see the glorious thing that was about to happen to him, but God wanted a witness. I also believe he was testing Elisha. God often uses the personalities and lives of others to work in our own lives in various ways. We need to recognise this and respond in faith to what He is doing. Is there someone whose life motivates or encourages you? Or perhaps the opposite exists. Is there someone who irritates you, tries your patience, or who challenges your viewpoints or opinions? Proverbs teaches, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Prov. 27:17)”.
Each time, Elisha refused to stay behind. He even used a double oath to show his “bulldog tenacity” to stay with his teacher to the very last. He said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”
Are you committed to Jesus Christ whom you have confess as your Lord and personal Saviour to follow Him to the end like Ruth in (Ruth 1:16) and Apostle Paul in (Romans 8:38-39) or like Gehazi who because of greed and riches of earth became leprous.
OLAJIDE OGUNFUWA
Prayers:
Father, Lord help me to serve You to the end, in Jesus name.
Spirit of commitment and responsibility come upon me now, in Jesus name.
No matter the temptation of enemy to push me away in my journey to heaven, Oh Lord, help me to stand firm and over come, in Jesus name.
Lord Jesus take away the love of money from heart of our leaders in the Church, in Jesus name.
Oh Nigeria, receive the grace to love and serve God with all your might, strength and power, in Jesus name.
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