WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE BURNING?

 

JANUARY 11, 2024



1 Kings 19:19-21

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 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.



In our reading today Elisha is showing his nothing-held-back commitment to follow Elijah and become his servant, which meant ultimately being God’s servant. He took the oxen that enabled him to make a living and used the plowing equipment to offer them as a sacrifice to God. Essentially Elisha’s actions indicated there was no turning back for him. And he did this publicly, sharing the meat with his people, declaring his intent to follow God’s invitation, and becoming a disciple of Elijah the prophet.

What we discover is Elisha’s commitment to Elijah and to God resulted in him also becoming a great prophet in Israel. He witnessed Elijah being taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, and then followed in his footsteps. He was one who performed miracles, advised kings, and through God’s Spirit defeated armies.

When you commit yourself to God’s calling in your own life, you have no idea what God will do with your discipleship and your life. What you can know, and this is a promise, God will honor your commitment and work in and through you to accomplish His purpose. “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

In what ways has God called, or is God calling you, to be fully committed to Him?



I have decided to follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, No turning back.

AMEN