Justin Tucker, LHBC Worship Pastor
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
I searched the world
But it couldn’t fill me
Man’s empty praise and treasures that fade
Are never enough
Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied
Here in Your love
Imagine that you’re at work, minding your own business, doing the routine and mundane tasks that you do every day and someone taps you on your shoulder, throws you a coat and says “C’mon, let’s go.” What do you do? Do you keep plugging away, doing the same old things or do you step out in faith into the unknown? There are a lot of figures throughout scripture that are presented with this exact same scenario, one of my personal favorites is Elisha.
There is nothing fantastical about Elisha’s appearance in the Bible. He hasn’t been a courageous warrior, he hasn’t performed any miracles, as a matter of fact, we have no evidence that he’s even been a holy or devout man. He’s just some guy that’s plowing a field. It was just an ordinary day for Elisha when Elijah, the Mick Jagger of Old Testament prophets, comes and calls him to be his successor. Elisha wasn’t looking for a different kind of life. He wasn’t praying for a different kind of life. He was simply doing the best he could with the life he assumed he’d been handed. Here’s where Elisha’s life goes from ordinary to extraordinary… Elisha runs after Elijah and accepts the invitation to be mentored. He not only follows Elijah but he kills his oxen and burns his plows and throws himself a going away party so he can’t return to the life he is leaving behind. Elisha goes on to perform miracles and proclaim prophecies. He counsels people from all walks of life, from kings to widows.
The life that Elisha got to live was never a life that he expected to live. He thought the southern end of a northbound oxen was going to be his view forever…but God… When God calls us to something, we have a choice…follow Him in obedience and trust Him one step at a time or do our own thing and not live an abundant life. Let me encourage you today: When God calls you to something, fire up the barbecue. Kill your oxen and burn your plows and chase after His will as hard as you can. It will be worth it!
Friends, God has a track record of doing uncommon things through common people. He turned a plow boy into a prophet. He made a shepherd boy a king. He turned 12 fishermen into what would become the Church. He defeated death and raised Himself back to life so we could be with Him forever. He wants to do something in and through you today. He’s in the business of taking what is dead and giving it new life. He turns graves into gardens! What is He calling you into today? Will you follow Him?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank you for loving me when I was dead in my sin and needing a new life that only you could give through your son, Jesus. Father forgive me when I haven’t stepped into the fullness of your will for my life. Lord, teach me to burn my plows and trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Jeremiah 10:6
There is none like you, O Lord;
you are great, and your name is great in might