“Respond To The Call Of God!”

“Respond To The Call Of God!”
The octogenarians of Africa have not grasped this sad truth that all of life is a relay race. Whether it is a monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy, kleptocracy or democracy, one day the baton must be handed over to another. Even in a theocracy, a prophet must one day hand over the baton to a next prophet.
Whatever we are is a vestige of the strains of a previous generation. Moses handed over to Joshua in the same way Elijah handed over to Elisha; in the same way John the Baptist handed over to Jesus of Nazareth. We come and we go, but the word and work of God must continue.
There must be continuity in the continuing work of God in Christ and it is important that there must be adequate time for grooming in succession. God asked Elijah to anoint Elisha to become his successor as prophet (I Kgs 19:16). That is why when Elijah found Elisha plowing, “Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.”
When God calls, there should be no turning back. Elisha is the perfect example that when God calls you should turn your back on all the things that are precious to you. Elisha was surely a wealthy farmer. Elijah met him when “he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself driving the twelfth.” He was not that kind of person who will sit and cross his legs in luxury as he ordered others to execute common tasks. Driving the twelfth pair reveals to us a sense of supervision and control. He could from his vantage last position oversee the work of the other eleven yoke of oxen. What a great mark of leadership.
Elisha did not only leave everything to become an attendant to Elijah, he did what will make him completely forget his wealth. He slaughtered his yoke of oxen and burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant”(I Kgs19:19-21).
By slaughtering the yoke of oxen and cooking it with the plowing equipment he demonstrated that he did not want any distractions in his new assignment.
By giving the meat to the people he demonstrated his love to share with others, thus creating an indelible memory on the hearts of the people.
Lastly, he discarded his wealth, not because there was a higher paid job, but because he had a higher calling. He shared his possessions just to go and become an attendant to Elijah. What a show of humility!
May the call of Elisha and the way he responded be an example to any and all of us in whatever assignment God is calling us to!
Above all, let there be nothing:to hold you back as you respond to the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus!
Prayer of the week: Holy Spirit help me daily to always share what I have as I respond to the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!