THE WORD: “Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people said nothing.” ~ 1 King 18:21
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” ~Joshua 24:15
I’ve been wrestling with a decision that I need to make. It’s daunting. On the one hand, I know that God is calling me to greater things, not in the sense that I’m going to be great, but in the sense that God wants to use the gifts and talents that He created in me to carry out His purpose. I am being challenged to step into my vocation…my calling. It’s a transition that I know God has been preparing me for, and yet I feel so totally inept. This time of transition is scary! My biggest struggle is the fear of failure. I do not want to fail Papa God.
In addition to the study of Gideon by Priscilla Shirer, I’ve been listening to messages by Andy Stanley, Todd Cook, and this week I added a message from Pastor Steve Furdick. Every message resonates the same theme: It is time to choose.
In the book of 1st Kings, the story of Elijah continues as God instructs him to anoint Elisha as the next prophet of Israel.
“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.” ~1 Kings 19:19-21
“Go back,” Elijah replied.“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.”
These verses spoke volumes to me. You see, in order to move forward, Elisha knew he had to do some housekeeping. He had to say goodbye to his parents, but more significant to me was the fact that Elisha knew he had to burn his plow and slaughter his oxen – the tools of his trade. This was a pivotal moment in Elisha’s life. He knew that in order to be completely free to forge ahead to do the greater things that God had purposed for him, he had to be rid of anything in his life that would hold him back.
Elisha took the necessary steps to complete surrender. So this begged the questions: What are the things I’m holding onto? What do I need to “burn,” metaphorically speaking? I know the answer: It is my fear, my doubt, my trepidation of the unknown! Now that I know this, the decision is really quite simple. I must trust Papa God. He has my best interest at heart. He knows my past, my present and my future. I must walk by faith and not by sight!
It’s time to step into the water and watch God part my daunting Red Sea. It’s time for complete surrender!
The final spiritual arrow that pierced my heart this week was embedded in Todd’s message yesterday. I came home and read it again:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” ~Revelation 3:14-20
This is the voice of our Savior…calling out to us…pursuing us…because he loves us so!
In Todd’s message, he said, “As a believer, if you choose to disobey, you will not lose your salvation, but you will lose the JOY of your salvation.”
I decided a long time ago that I want to live out the rest of my life in the joy of the Lord! I know now what I must choose!
How about you? Are you at a crossroad? Do you have fears, doubts, habits, relationships, in your life that keep you from moving forward? What is God calling you to do? How will you respond? Will you remain silent, or will you “burn” the things that hinder and weigh you down. Will you choose today to be a servant of your idols…or a servant of God?
“Papa God, help us to trust you with every area of our lives! Help us to seek after you…to surrender completely anything that would hinder our walk and our service to you. Help us to take your WORD seriously, to read it daily and to allow it to massage our hearts into obedience. You created us for a purpose. Help us to be still and to listen to your voice…your calling for our lives. You, Papa, will never fail us. You have our best interest at heart! We ask this in Jesus name… Amen”
Rod & Rose 