In the conclusion of this lengthy series, consider a way we can diminish or eliminate distracting voices, appeals, or alternatives to being the deep-loam spiritual soil of discipleship.
First a question: what caused Elijah, a man powerfully endowed to confront kings, to flee an incorrigibly wrong-headed woman? Instead of recruiting deference by fearless proclamation, to dishonorably silence his message by flight? How could a man so thoroughly devoted to God suddenly be found derelict in duty, forsaking accountability, ignoring his conscience? A shirker, not a stalwart; an escapist, not a confrontationalist? A suggestion: what but being so devoted to his mission that he forgot the content of his message: that God preferred to acquit than convict, to save than to damn sinners. On Elijah’s behalf we understand how difficult it would be to continue preaching repentance, and see only rebellion in return. Habakkuk had the same issue with Judah Habakkuk 1:1-4. For that very reason Elijah should have comforted himself in God’s mercies. God’s very compassion for him would have kept him personally at peace while warring as prophet against faithless Israel The very fact that he hid in fear from God’s still, small voice indicates he had allowed too much noisy judgment against sinners to occupy his thinking, perhaps by not experiencing enough of God’s grace in his own life. After all this coverage of Elijah’s flight following his success at Mt. Carmel, a suggestion to all Christ’s disciples: take time to read God’s word and pray. No other spiritual grace will be as strong in our Christian life. Always start with Bible study--study, not mere reading. Ask the Spirit to make the passage’s meaning clear. The reason we have Bible study first is to ground our knowledge of Christ in God’s Truth, not our feelings. Christians cannot afford to have faith in OUR faith in God as the basis of our witness. Only Bible study keeps us on firm scriptural ground instead of flying in the air unhinged, with our belief in particular emotional feelings. However, while in prayer after solid Bible study, we should take time to be still before God, saying nothing, our mind quiet so we can hear his whisper. Don’t stuff prayer time with multiple requests that have us always talking; of visions we welcome or fear; of activities that inspire or frighten us. There’s a time for that, and God understands that need. But he does, after all, know our needs and aspirations before we state them. God may, in those holy interstices, offer a breakthrough insight. Maybe through a sudden illumination of scripture we’ve read multiple times, but understood more clearly than ever before. Maybe just a sense that he wants, or doesn’t want, something that has burdened us with increasing concern from lacking his guidance. If nothing else, being still before God, while thinking about GOD, can fill us with an awareness of His Presence that can make ALL else unimportant since we have the GOD of all comfort, knowledge, forgiveness, supply, etc. NOT JUST those gifts! Fini
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|