Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good Lifeنموونە

God Is Our Provision

Elisha, the prophet, followed God with a desire to do even more for Him. Asking for a double portion of ability to work for the Lord, he went right into ministry with zeal. Elijah had been a very influential prophet with a reputation for following the Lord even in great adversity. Elisha was uninterested in disappointing God and desired to do his best to serve the Lord well. Today, we read the first request of his ministry, which paints a wonderful picture of the everlasting healing of God. Commentators believe that the city in question was not supposed to have been rebuilt, but it was and lacked the necessary resources.

We can relate today to how crucial water is for sustaining life. Here in the Central Valley of California, we know all too well what a lack of water can do to crops. Worldwide, we see the devastation of too much water in some areas and the chaos of having too little water in others. Then, there is the issue of having a resource that is unusable. I think of the recent fires in southern California and how the fire was next to the water that couldn’t be used to put it out. Elisha cared; God cared about the situation, making what was useless useful.

Jesus also shares His parable with the people, using a familiar illustration to show the importance of choosing stability over foolish choices. Astonished, the people wondered at His authority because they still did not understand who He was. Matthew Henry, a well-known pastor and commentator, wrote,

“It is impossible for people admire good preaching and yet remain in unbelief…astonished yet not sanctified.”

On this day when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, have you received the everlasting healing of God? Do you know the gift of salvation through belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus as the sacrifice to atone for our sins? As we read today, let us be astonished AND sanctified, allowing God to take the useless things of our lives and make them useful with Christ as our Rock of Firm Foundation.

*Primer contributed by Gaylyn Mott, Teacher, Musician, Yarn Artist, Member of Cornerstone Community Church

An Easter Sunday Prayer

O Living Lord,

on the first Easter Day you stood in the midst of your disciples

as the conqueror of sin and death and spoke to them your peace.

Come to us, we pray, in your risen power

and make us glad with your presence,

and so breathe your Holy Spirit into our hearts

that we may be strong to serve you

and spread abroad your good news,

for the glory of your great name. Amen.