2nd Kings tells the stories of 4 different miracles of God performed through His prophet Elisha. The widow who needs money to pay the soon-coming creditor, pours her “remaining” oil into jar after jar after jar. The Shunammite woman’s cherished son, who dies from sun poisoning, is brought back to life. The poisonous gourd soup that is made good with flour. And the feeding of a hundred men with only twenty loaves of barley bread.
What struck me most was the dependency of the people in the stories on the prophet. He was just human, but he was God’s ambassador to the people. The people went to him when they needed deliverance from their problem.
In today’s society, I find myself and others around me, with a very self-sufficient attitude. Not reaching out to others when we truly need help. Wearing ourselves to the bone trying to do it all.
I also see in myself at times, an attitude of self-reliance in regards to approaching the King of Kings. I choose not to reach out to God to gain His strength and power for my life. I can do it on my own. I can handle what curve ball comes my way, instead of armoring up with God and preparing myself for the bombs the enemy likes to plop into my day.
I marvel at my own thick-headedness. On those mornings, when I make it a priority to armor up God’s way. I am so much more prepared to deal with life (the not-so-pretty life). But yet, I revert back to doing it on my own and then have to deal with the not-so-pretty consequences of my actions.
Thanks be to Jesus for his mercy and compassion.
__________
“The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, He saved me.”
Psalm 116:5&6 NIV
Paul puts it so wonderfully in 1 Timothy 1:15
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”
And still He gives and appoints…
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.”
1 Timothy 1:12
“How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord, in the presence of all His people.”
Psalm 116:12-14
__________
Lord,
I want to be so reliant on You each and every day. To trust You with my life and the storms that blow through it. Help me to reach out to others for help and also to reach out to others with help. Even more importantly, help to reach out to You for Your strength and power to see me through. I long to glorify You with my life, in action, word and deed.
Amen
– Beckie (look2thehills)
Sixty-six books in a year 