Devotional - April 16, 2025
Scripture: 1 Kings 17: 19-24 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
In the face of accusation and condemnation, Elijah is the bearer of salvation. I say it often, but it applies here too. He is the solution, regardless of the situation surrounding the problem. Remember, God has been working on Elijah and Elijah has been learning and growing. How often people pray for a blessing but do nothing to prepare for it. Or they ask God to use them, and resist the preparation needed to be successfully used by God. Why do we assume working for God will be easy and fun... It's not. We may think we are ready, but God may not. There are definitely times in ministry that are fun, light-hearted, and joyous, but the work entails everything life has to offer including disappointment, hardship, confusion, and even betrayal. The only way to deal with it, is to go through it and beyond it. Elijah understands this, he endures, prays, and brings restoration and life back to a situation that was lost. Jesus does this all the time with us. Does Jesus complain? Does Elijah complain? No, it is part and parcel of the Godly life. Again, the lady speaks affirming words to Elijah, but as before, Elijah is not changed by them. Elijah is who he is regardless of how he is treated. God has built him up to this point. Being so, does not mean Elijah cannot feel or have the same emotional responses anyone would have in his situation. He anguishes over what happened to the lady's son, but his direction in life stays the same. Living for God centers our life (Isaiah 26:3 & 30:15) and keep us off the roller coaster of public opinion and circumstance which is always a good idea. We see Jesus do this on Palm Sunday (Luke 19: 28-40). People are praising Him, supporting Him, close to Him. But, they change the minute things go bad (Zechariah 13:7 and Matthew 26:31). But God fulfilled the covenant and promises (Luke 24) that God made to the people.
Pray with me..., Holy God, You are our Rock. We stand firm in Your love and promises ...hear our praise. Grant Your blessing on our loved ones, we pray. Grant Your blessing on our church, so we may be the people You call us to be, in Jesus' name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
