Everyday Miracles: 20 Day Journey With Elijah And Elisha预览

You’re no imposter. In Christ, you’re fully qualified for your inheritance in the saints. 

For several years during my childhood, I had the best seat in the house for the ACC basketball tournament. Back in the day, the tournament was a highlight not just because of the usual ferocity of competition and excellence of play but also because winning it was the only way to proceed to the NCAA tournament. Though the tournament rotates venue location now, when I was a child it was always played in my hometown at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tickets were rare and expensive. But my best buddy was a ball boy at the Coliseum. He got to sit under the basket, throw balls to the players during warm up and mop up sweat during the game.

One year, my friend’s dad said, “Alan, why don’t you come in the back entrance to the Coliseum and sit under the basket with the ball boys? All you have to do is put on some white pants and a blue shirt like the other ball boys. You’ll fit right in.”

So I did. I marched right in, threw basketballs to some of my all-time college basketball heroes (like Phil Ford) and even became bold enough to get on TV while mopping up sweat of the floor. It was unforgettable. 

And frightening. 

After all, I was an imposter. My enjoyment of being there was tainted by the knowledge that, because I didn’t deserve to be there, at any moment I might be tapped on the shoulder by a Coliseum official and escorted off the property. 

A lot of Christians live that way. Knowing the depths of our sin, it’s hard to feel one hundred percent confident that we are truly qualified to walk with God. To make sure that every Christian understands his/her standing with God, James references one of the most famous, most glorious heroes in all of Biblical faith – Elijah. James’ point is poignant: you are just like Elijah! He was just as human as you and look what God did through him. Paul tells the Colossians pointedly – you have been qualified! God wants you to know that the blood of Christ is sufficient; by faith, through grace alone, you’re qualified. You’re no imposter. And that’s the Gospel!

Questions for Reflection

1) Can you remember a time/moment/season in your life when you felt like an imposter? What did it feel like?

2) When it comes to walking in the fullness of your spiritual inheritance, in what ways are you most likely to disqualify yourself? Take a few moments for honest reflection and confession – what makes you feel like an imposter as a Christian? What does God’s Word have to say about it?

3) As you look back over your month of devotions with Elijah and Elisha, how have you grown? What has the Lord shown you? Journal about several of the most important revelations God has given you. 

Prayer for the Day

Lord, though my sin-nature makes me feel like an imposter, you have qualified me in Christ for an endlessly rich inheritance among the saints and authorized me to reign with Christ in the kingdom of light. You’ve shown me that I’m no different than Elijah and, if you used Elijah in powerful ways, you can also use me. Let the meditation of Everyday Miracles not leave my heart. Draw me deeper into your counsel and cause me to thirst all the more for quiet time with you. Be glorified in and through me just as you were through your servant Elijah. I pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.