Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Kings 19-20; Matthew 10
Devotional Thought:
I learned a long time ago, that every decision has a future. We do not just get to exist, but rather as we exist we are impacting people either for good or bad. Ahab did evil before the Lord in that he served Baal. In fact, the Bible says that he did more evil than any of the kings before him. Ahab, like Jeroboam, impacted all of Israel for evil. On the other hand, Elijah and Obadiah were impacting a group of prophets for good. This passage reiterates that Baal does not send the rain upon the crops, but rather it is God who sends the rain. It is interesting that when Ahab and Elijah meet that the first words out of Ahab’s mouth is an accusation regarding Elijah causing trouble in Israel. Carnal people always want to blame someone else for the trouble in their lives rather than addressing the disobedience in their own lives. However, Elijah does not back down or let Ahab off the hook. He said unto Ahab, “… I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” (vs. 18) It was now time to demonstrate the power of God over Baal, so Elijah tells Ahab to gather 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets from the groves and meet him on Mount Carmel. The question is relevant for today, “how long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him…” (vs. 21) The response was silence on the part of the people. Elijah then poses the challenge of setting up an altar and having the false prophets call upon Baal as He calls unto the One and True God. You know the story, but the prophets of Baal tried everything they knew to make fire come from heaven, but they were praying to a god who cannot see, cannot hear, and cannot do, because he is not alive. Are you living life, depending upon a false god to meet your daily and future needs? Do you serve the stock market? Elijah calls all the people to come near as he did everything he could do to make it humanly impossible for fire to light his sacrifice. Elijah’s prayer was simply, “…hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” (vs. 37) Is your prayer each day for God to do the things that will make you happy and make your life function better, or is your prayer that people may see God in the circumstances of your life and know that He is God? When the people saw the power of God upon Elijah, they were more than willing to gather the prophets of Baal together so Elijah could kill every one of them. How do we defeat carnality? By showing the mighty hand of God, and helping people see His power, His person, and His purposes. It is an interesting fact, that the rain does not come until the people had properly dealt with the false prophets of Baal. May we, like Joshua (Josh. 24:15), choose this day to serve the Lord, and to take every opportunity to point people to Christ. We must be impacting people for good!
Personal
• Lord, please help me to impact people today for good. Help me to set a precedent for people to follow that exalts you and your purposes.
• Lord, thank you for being aware of my needs, caring about my needs, and constantly meeting my needs. However, please help me to live life thinking of your plan and not my own needs.
• Lord, please help me to stand firm in the face of adversity. Like Elijah, please help me to wait on your timing for things and to boldly communicate your truth and plan as you make it known.
• Lord, thank you for being an all-powerful being, who knows all things, and is always in control. What a comfort that brings to my heart.