#DailyDevotion There Is One Who Is Always Faithful To You
September 4th
Read 2 Kng 2:1–18
2Ki 2:1-3 ESV Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. (2) And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. (3) And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 9-11 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.” (10) 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.” (11) And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Three times Elijah tells Elisha to stay and let him be taken and three times Elijah insist on remaining with Elijah. It is very much like when Ruth pledges to stay with Naomi. They had a love for each other and particularly the younger for the older that they would stay with them until the end. They would not be dissuaded.
Sometimes it seems as if Christ and our Father in heaven are like that. We do not hear their voice telling us to leave them. Rather it is the circumstances of our lives that tell us that try to persuade us to leave God and to leave Christ. “Stay there” or “Go back to your country” or “Don’t follow me anymore” is the impression we get because the circumstances of our lives make us think the Lord no longer loves us and wants to be around us. But like Elisha and Naomi we must insist that we shall cling to Christ Jesus no matter what. Our faith is being tried and tested to purify it and make it whole.
Elisha stayed and remained with Elijah, even amidst the flaming chariots of the horses of Israel. It must have been a terrible sight. But because Elisha remained faithful to Elijah, a double portion of Elijah’s spirit was given to Elisha. What this means is that Elisha would be twice as capable as Elijah in his ministry to Israel. When you undergo the fiery trials of your life and you remain faithful know that the strength of your spirit will be increase. Spiritual dross will be removed and your faith with be stronger. This is good, because the Lord Jesus never leaves us alone. He is never satisfied with our state of being. Jesus begins, continues and perfects our faith and He does it through trials and tribulations. Our Heavenly Father continually disciplines us until He calls us home even as He called Elijah home to Himself.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Spirit that we may remain faithful unto you through the trials and tribulations in our lives knowing that you are purifying our faith and preparing us to be called home to you one day. Amen.