Through the Bible: 2 Kingsنموونە
Ask and Keep Focus
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.”
2 Kings 2:9-10 (ESV)
Elisha stayed focused on his mission. He didn’t listen to the other prophets who tried to discourage him or even Elijah who asked him to stay behind. Elisha followed Elijah till Elijah was taken from him. He wanted to receive his blessings. He kept his focus. As a result, God blessed him with a double portion as he requested.
As Christians we all have a mission: to serve God. Life is full of distractions and diversions that can keep us away from our mission. Like Elisha, we need to build our strength in the Lord, to concentrate on our mission, not let outside elements affect us in our journey to receive our blessings. When we are able to stay focused on God’s will, we build and strengthen our faith in Him.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray that like Elisha, You help each of us to stay focused on our mission. I pray that You give us a spirit of discernment, to not be discouraged but to seek Your voice for guidance and strength, so we can build our faith and receive Your blessings. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
About this Plan
Together with 1st Kings, the author minces no words to connect the nation’s destiny to each king’s faithfulness to Yahweh. Elisha succeeded Elijah as the representative of God’s voice, but there was way too little to be done when people’s hearts remained hardened. Despite few reforms under the reign of King Jehu, Hezekiah and Josiah, the northern and southern kingdoms finally perished in 722 and 587 BCE respectively.
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