Elisha Pursued His Goal Resolutely
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.” – 2 Kings 2:2
Elijah was one of the most renowned prophets in Israel’s history and Elisha was his protégé. Elisha wanted to carry on the ministry of Elijah and he knew that he would have to stay close to him to learn all that he could. He also knew that the Lord was going to take Elijah soon, and Elisha wanted to be there to receive Elijah’s mantle of anointing.
Three times Elijah tried to send Elisha away, but Elisha would hear nothing of it. He knew that the thing he wanted most would be given him only if he stayed close to Elijah. As they were walking they came to the Jordan. Elijah took off his coat and struck the water. The water divided and they crossed over on dry ground.
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied. ‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah said, ‘yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise not” (v9-11).
Elisha had been mentored by Elijah to be the next prophet in the land. One thing he had learned is that to be mentored by another person one must pursue the mentor with a passion. If Elisha had not had a firm resolve to be with Elijah when he was taken up he might have left when Elijah told him to go – but he didn’t because he was committed to getting the blessing.
We have all known people who were impressed by someone else and wanted to be mentored by them, but they lacked the tenacity to pursue their mentor. Usually a person worth emulating is a busy person and busy people require a lot of tenacity to get close to them. Elisha had that kind of perseverance in his pursuit of Elijah. Perseverance in pursuit of a goal has great rewards.
Is there someone you have desired to emulate? Pursue them.
Prayer: Lord, I do desire your best for me, but it is easy to become sidetracked; grant me the grace to stay focused on you. In Jesus name, amen.
Elisha Pursued His Goal Resolutely
Message: Perseverance in pursuit of a goal has great rewards. Elisha would not have received the blessing had he not persevered in pursuing Elijah.
Affirmation: I am committed to pursuing God and his blessing in the manner in which Elisha pursued the blessing from Elijah.
Reflection: When God has promised a blessing we often have to endure undesirable circumstances in pursuit of that blessing. We must resolve to do whatever it takes to receive the blessing that we have been promised.
Comments: Did this devotion speak to you in any way? If it did we would be blessed to hear from you. Feel free to make comments, ask questions or just let us know us know if you are blessed by these devotions.
Elijah was one of the most renowned prophets in Israel’s history and Elisha was his protégé. Elisha wanted to carry on the ministry of Elijah and he knew that he would have to stay close to him to learn all that he could. He also knew that the Lord was going to take Elijah soon, and Elisha wanted to be there to receive Elijah’s mantle of anointing.
Three times Elijah tried to send Elisha away, but Elisha would hear nothing of it. He knew that the thing he wanted most would be given him only if he stayed close to Elijah. As they were walking they came to the Jordan. Elijah took off his coat and struck the water. The water divided and they crossed over on dry ground.
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied. ‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah said, ‘yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise not” (v9-11).
Elisha had been mentored by Elijah to be the next prophet in the land. One thing he had learned is that to be mentored by another person one must pursue the mentor with a passion. If Elisha had not had a firm resolve to be with Elijah when he was taken up he might have left when Elijah told him to go – but he didn’t because he was committed to getting the blessing.
We have all known people who were impressed by someone else and wanted to be mentored by them, but they lacked the tenacity to pursue their mentor. Usually a person worth emulating is a busy person and busy people require a lot of tenacity to get close to them. Elisha had that kind of perseverance in his pursuit of Elijah. Perseverance in pursuit of a goal has great rewards.
Is there someone you have desired to emulate? Pursue them.
Prayer: Lord, I do desire your best for me, but it is easy to become sidetracked; grant me the grace to stay focused on you. In Jesus name, amen.
Elisha Pursued His Goal Resolutely
Message: Perseverance in pursuit of a goal has great rewards. Elisha would not have received the blessing had he not persevered in pursuing Elijah.
Affirmation: I am committed to pursuing God and his blessing in the manner in which Elisha pursued the blessing from Elijah.
Reflection: When God has promised a blessing we often have to endure undesirable circumstances in pursuit of that blessing. We must resolve to do whatever it takes to receive the blessing that we have been promised.
Comments: Did this devotion speak to you in any way? If it did we would be blessed to hear from you. Feel free to make comments, ask questions or just let us know us know if you are blessed by these devotions.
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