READ: LUKE
19:37-40
“Elisha had
become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel
came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, ‘O my father, my father,
the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!’” (2 Kings 13:14). When king Joash
came to see Elisha on his sick bed, he wept over him. When you die, will people
weep over you because you have been so valuable, useful and a great blessing to
them, like Dorcas? (Tabitha). Or will creditors weep in despair over the many
you owe them? Will people shed tears of joy at your death, meaning you brought
them bondage and sorrow during your lifetime? What will people say about you
when you leave your present place of assignment? Will they miss you, or say
that terror has left at last, thank God? Reconsider your ways.
When Joash came before the prophet all he did was to call him special names. He did not ask for any help. Calling God by special names is an act of worship. It was this act of worship that actually moved Elisha to lay his hands on Joash. If you worship God in the appropriate way, you will receive more miracles than when you pray for them. Worshipping rightly will bring about divine guidance, as in 2 Kings 3:14-20. Also, it will move God to take over and fight your battles for you, as in the case of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. To enter into his gates, start with thanksgiving and a joyful noise unto God, to invite his presence.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to thank God for what he has done and for what he is yet to do. Praise is appreciating God for his acts. So you can praise him for parting the Red Sea, pulling down the walls of Jericho, healing the sick and raising the dead. Praise God as long as you have breath (Psalm 150:6). It is very important to God that you praise him or else, according to our reading, the stones will take over and do a better job. I have resolved that stones will not replace me. What about you? Get up today and begin to praise God. Praise God and every dead Lazarus in your life will arise.
When Joash came before the prophet all he did was to call him special names. He did not ask for any help. Calling God by special names is an act of worship. It was this act of worship that actually moved Elisha to lay his hands on Joash. If you worship God in the appropriate way, you will receive more miracles than when you pray for them. Worshipping rightly will bring about divine guidance, as in 2 Kings 3:14-20. Also, it will move God to take over and fight your battles for you, as in the case of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. To enter into his gates, start with thanksgiving and a joyful noise unto God, to invite his presence.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to thank God for what he has done and for what he is yet to do. Praise is appreciating God for his acts. So you can praise him for parting the Red Sea, pulling down the walls of Jericho, healing the sick and raising the dead. Praise God as long as you have breath (Psalm 150:6). It is very important to God that you praise him or else, according to our reading, the stones will take over and do a better job. I have resolved that stones will not replace me. What about you? Get up today and begin to praise God. Praise God and every dead Lazarus in your life will arise.
MEMORIZE:
2 KINGS 13:14 –Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die.
Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and
said, ‘O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!
