READ: 2
KINGS 2:1-15
At the
beautiful Gate, a crowd had gathered. They were amazed over a well-known
cripple who had just been healed. While the crowd enjoyed the sensation of the
moment, only the cripple received a miracle that would change his life. On the
way to Jericho another crowd had gathered. This time, Jesus and the blind
Bartimaeus were at the centre. Everybody was amazed that the blind man was
healed, but only Bartimaeus received the miracle.
In every gathering, there are always different categories of people. There are the people who testify about what God has done for them. They are the active participants. Then there are people who listen to those testimonies. They are the passive participants. Both groups are busy: one testifies, the other watches.
At the gate of Samaria, after God had provided bountifully and reversed the siege, many were experiencing the miracle for themselves. The counsellor of the king, however, chose to remain an onlooker. He kept looking in amazement, until he got in the way of those rushing to collect the bounty, so they trampled him to death. I choose not to be an onlooker, but an active participant!
From today’s passage, we see that the prophets knew that God would rapture their great colleague Elijah. Rather than see how they can benefit from him, the sons of the prophets stood at a distance, watching. Elisha, however, refused to be an onlooker. He decided to be an active participant. So he persevered until they had crossed the river Jordan. Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, so Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s anointing, and got it. By the time he returned, the other prophets immediately saw the difference in him and bowed down before him. Onlookers cannot achieve their goals. They remain servants forever. Leave that group today, and join the active participants.
In every gathering, there are always different categories of people. There are the people who testify about what God has done for them. They are the active participants. Then there are people who listen to those testimonies. They are the passive participants. Both groups are busy: one testifies, the other watches.
At the gate of Samaria, after God had provided bountifully and reversed the siege, many were experiencing the miracle for themselves. The counsellor of the king, however, chose to remain an onlooker. He kept looking in amazement, until he got in the way of those rushing to collect the bounty, so they trampled him to death. I choose not to be an onlooker, but an active participant!
From today’s passage, we see that the prophets knew that God would rapture their great colleague Elijah. Rather than see how they can benefit from him, the sons of the prophets stood at a distance, watching. Elisha, however, refused to be an onlooker. He decided to be an active participant. So he persevered until they had crossed the river Jordan. Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, so Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s anointing, and got it. By the time he returned, the other prophets immediately saw the difference in him and bowed down before him. Onlookers cannot achieve their goals. They remain servants forever. Leave that group today, and join the active participants.
MEMORIZE:
1 KINGS 18:21 –And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt you
between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow
him. And the people answered him not a word.
