DEVOTION – DAY 258

1 Kings 19:21 “Giving Up Something For God”

 

1 Kings 19:21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

 

This verse is part of the section of the Bible that records the call to serve – given to Elisha by the prophet Elijah. Elijah was at the end of his ministry and God had told Elijah to anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). Elijah found Elisha in a field plowing with twelve oxen. Elijah went up to Elisha and threw his cloak around Elisha. This was a sign to inform Elisha that he was designated to be his successor. Elisha left his oxen immediately and asked for permission to bid his parents farewell. In vs.21, to signify his complete break with his past, Elisha had the twelve oxen slaughtered, cooking the meat over wood that was part of his plow. Elisha was from a wealthy family for not many families could afford so many oxen to be used for plowing fields. Elisha was obedient to his calling. He was willing to give up everything to be a servant to Elijah. In Hebrew, it would be like the same relationship Joshua had as Moses’ servant.

 

There are times when God calls us to follow Him and His call. In order to obey God, sacrifices may be required. Sacrifices can be in the form of our time, the use of our God given talents, our resources, and so on. Not everyone is called to make a complete break from the past like Elisha. The point is that when God’s call is given, we must obey the call. We must be willing to make the sacrifices whatever they may be.

 

We know someone who was called by God to be a missionary in a neighboring country. He accepted the call and resigned from his job. He sold his car and gave away most of his possessions. In faith, he bought a one-way ticket to that country not knowing what was ahead. Today, after more than 15 years of ministry, he can testify that he never once regretted answering God’s call. But to get to where he is today required taking that first step of faith to make a clean break from his past.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please help us to always remember and obey that your Will be done. Help us never to count the cost of following you and for the cause of Jesus Christ and to give you the glory. We humbly ask this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What are some things or people you will find hard to give up should you have to choose between them and answering God’s call for you?
  2. Why is it important that you choose God and His call for you over theses things? Discuss.
  3. What kind of sacrifices have you made for the Lord in the past? Share.
  4. How has this devotion encouraged you to sacrificially choose God over your own inclinations?