THE LORD SPOKE (May 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Kings 1-2

Elisha comes quietly onto the biblical page but what an impression he leaves. More times than any other individual in the Scriptures, he is known as "the man of God". Sometimes his real name isn't even given but when "the man of God" is mentioned, everyone knows exactly to whom it refers. What an epitaph! In today's passage he models for us the role of one who is being mentored by a great leader. What can we learn from Elisha's closing days with his mentor, Elijah?

1. Be prepared to let him go but stick by his side as long as you can to observe and learn from him (II Ki. 1:1-4).
2. Remember that others are watching closely and will learn by your example. What you do is as important as what you teach them (II Ki. 1:5-6).
3. Ask the Lord to give you a similar ministry and similar success in it. The "double portion" terminology comes from inheritance law. Elisha is not asking for a ministry twice as great (II Ki. 1:7-14).
4. When it's your time to "pick up the cloak", step out in faith and don't look back. Don't live in the past (II Ki. 1:15-18).

Do you have a mentor? Find one and latch on.

Are you mentoring? Find a handful and pour yourself into them. Look at Jesus' own example: of the seventy disciples, He had twelve who were always around Him, of which three formed an inner-circle. Of those, one was "the disciple whom He loved". Together, they turned the world upside down.


New Testament: I Corinthians 13

Insert your own name in the blanks, and try this application of I Corinthians 13.

I CORINTHIANS 13 FOR ____________

If ____________ speaks in the tongues of men and of angels, but does not have love, he is only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If ____________ has the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if he has a faith that can move mountains, but doesn’t have love, he is nothing. If he gives all he possesses to the poor and surrenders his body to the flames, but still doesn’t have love, he gains nothing.

Is ____________ patient?

Is ____________ kind?

Does ____________ envy?

Does ____________ boast?

Is ____________ proud?

Is ____________ rude?

Is ____________ self-seeking?

Is ____________ easily angered?

Does ____________ keep a record of wrongs?

Does ____________ delight in evil or rejoice with the truth?

Does ____________ always protect?

always trust?

always hope?

always persevere?

Does ____________ ever fail?