🌿BREATHE TRUTH🌿
So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team………
So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. —1 Kings 19:19-21
🌿LIVE THE REAL TRUTH🌿
There are roads we take that we can’t turn around. There are streams we cross that we can’t swim back. There are trails we hike up that we can’t come down. Elisha understands this concept of the call of Christ. Wherever God calls you to go, no need prevails to return to the previous life.
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Remove the temptation to fall back into the old life.
During fall season, leaves flutter to the ground leaving tree limbs looking empty and void of life. The reversal, fallen leaves flying back to its old branches, has little chance of happening. Dead leaves, all dry, darkened, and decaying on the earth’s floor rotting away, will not turn green again. No resurrection, no way of regaining its original verdant state.
Elisha embraces his ministry to serve God wholeheartedly. He is completely committed, absolutely all-in, fully faithful to God’s plans for his life. Fidelity in relationships means not having backup plans in case things don’t work out. Fidelity in our relationship with God is evidenced similarly. If the life of a prophet is too hard, one can always “fall” back on the backup of agriculture work. Not here. Elisha gives us a tremendous picture of fidelity at its highest character.
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We are creatures of vacillation and oscillation. We wander and waver in relationships and real goals.
In slaughtering the oxen, Elisha slays any hesitation of following God. Elisha has already counted the costs, and the adventure of going after God’s people to pursue God’s heart for God’s glory is worth leaning all that he has forward.
-Elisha takes his oxen team and turns them into a meal. No oxen. No door of returning to become a farmer again.
-Elisha burns his plow and turns them into wood for the fire. No plow. No window of returning to the profession of farming.
Elisha closes the door, window, and resurrection of any possibility of changing his mind to his call of becoming a prophet.
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Ready your heart for all that God has for you ahead.
Astoundingly, Elisha surrenders ahead of time, those moments in the journey ahead when he might be tempted to falter and find himself trekking back to his old life. A life surrendered to God in advance of any difficult trials and tribulations. This sold-out mindset for God is in contrast to a world that doesn’t comprehend the idea of dying to self. To live is Christ, Elisha lives out. To die is gain.
Several options are rendered to Elisha regarding the equipment of his past livelihood.
Scenario 1: Elisha could kill the oxen for meat, but keep the plow intact.
Scenario 2: Elisha could keep the oxen alive, and only destroy the plow.
Scenario 3: Elisha could sell either the oxen or the plow, or both and keep the proceeds.
Scenario 4: Elisha could give up both the oxen and the plow to God.
Elisha goes all out. He chooses the final option, to cook the oxen and use the wooden plow pieces to fuel the fire. His actions declare two things to God:
- Elisha gives all that he has to ready all of his heart for what God will do next in his life.
- Elisha trusts God to meet all his future needs, relying on God, not on the profit from selling his oxen and plow.
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Reserve your place at the altar.
In the Old Testament times, an altar is built. Sacrifices of an animal, cut in pieces, is placed on the altar to burn. What Elisha gives up is akin to a sacrificial offering:
I’m offering my old life for a new one, Lord. My heart is ready for the adventure you have ahead for me. I turn my life and calling over to You.
Beloved, come to the altar. Give God your old life in exchange for a new one. The adventure He is preparing for you is the one you’ve been seeking all your life. Go ahead. Reserve your place at the altar of the Real Truth.
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©️2019 Jordan Su