Devotional - Mar. 12, 2025
Scripture: 1 Kings 17: 7-9 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
Elijah may have a great name and mission, but in order to fulfill it, he has to grow into it. Many Christians, I think, have long since forgotten that faith is a process one never outgrows. We, instead, worry about our after-life more than what we are doing in this life. We think saying, Jesus is our Lord and Savior, covers us without realizing what it means. Or, folks define it in ways that meet their needs, not God's. Yet, have you ever thought, are they better off? I know those who read this devotional already know the answer;) If the world's ways are better, then why are so many people unhappy? Why are so many unfulfilled? Be advised, I am not perfect and I am not trying to say that I am. But, for the most part, I am happy. And, even though I have messed up more often than I want to think about and can easily dream of better versions of myself and my life, I feel satisfied. I feel fulfilled. I do not base these feelings solely on my own efforts. No, it was and is a gift from God. I had to make good choices in my life to be where I am, but I am grateful and blessed to be here. I hope the same is true for you. But, there were and still are times for karith. Times for cutting off, times for severing my association with certain things in my personal and social life. As I continue to grow in Christ, old ways of thinking and doing need to change. The old is removed (severed) and the new comes forth. The new and old cannot continue on together, not authentically ( Luke 5: 37-39, Romans 12:2, John 3: 5-7). But once the separation is made, the process is not over. In fact, it has just begun. God let's Elijah know it was time to move on and separate himself from the Karith Ravine when the water ran out. He is ready for the next step, Zarephath. In Hebrew it means to to smelter, refine, and purify. The process sounds a little scary to say the least. One can only imagine what that means. Elijah will find out. Smelting was the process of getting metals out of rock. Like the process of refining and purifying, it took a lot of effort to remove the impurities. Doing so, included a lot of hammering, heating to high temperatures in a furnace, and repeating the process time and again. Not a metaphor most would appreciate being applied to their own life. Unless, you were excited about the product or outcome. If you wanted to refine some silver ore to make a chalice, you welcomed the process. You wanted to get started and underway. Change does not have to be a bad thing. We change all the time, it's our attitude about the change that makes all the difference.
Pray with me..., Holy God we are grateful for the grace You show us each day. We may struggle, but Your support stays constant and for that we are thankful. Bless our loved ones, we pray. Bless them according to their needs and we ask Your blessing on our church. All to Your glory, Lord, for it is in the name of Jesus that we pray, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
