The Walking Dead?
It’s an interesting story.
After Elisha the prophet was buried (and a few years had gone by), some Israelites were burying a man but noticed a gang of raiders quickly approaching. Knowing time was short, they quickly tossed the dead man’s body inside the tomb of Elisha and ran for safety.
(You can read the story in 2 Kings 13:20-21.)
The body of the dead man touched Elisha’s bones . . .
and that’s where this little two-verse story takes a fascinating turn!
As soon as dead body touched Elisha’s bones,
the dead man
immediately
came to life!
Coffins weren’t used by the Jews.
And the graves of the Jews weren’t holes dug in the ground
like those found in our modern-day cemeteries.
Dead bodies were usually tossed into caves—
and the mouth of the cave was shut by a large stone.
What can this interesting little story teach us?
Three things:
Thing #1: Through giving life to the dead body through Elisha’s bones, God confirmed the authority and ministry He had given Elisha. We hope those who witnessed this miracle embraced
Elisha’s faith in God.
God had promised Elisha that He would give him a
“double portion” of the power that He had given to Elijah.
This final miracle fulfilled the promise of the “double portion.”
Thing #2: This story also shows us that by Christ’s
death and burial, Christians can view the grave as a calm
and peaceful passage to eternal life.
We don’t need to fear death.
We will live forever with Christ.
And Thing #3? Ahhhh. That’s coming next week!
Thoughts?
I’m speaking in Nixa, MO.
Thanks so much for your much-appreciated prayers!
What Is God’s Will?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who
does the will of my Father
who is in heaven”
(Matthew 7:21 NIV).
Jesus clearly says in the above Scripture
that unless we’re doing the will of Father God,
we won’t enter the Kingdom.
The will of Father God is holiness.
And the only way we can live it is through His Spirit.
This is done by
total surrender to Him.
Giving up control of our lives.
Letting Him reign in every area.
We need to remember that the people Jesus was speaking to
in Matthew 7:21 were the religious.
In today’s terms—
they were the church-goers,
the ones participating on mission trips,
the ones who loved the praise and worship.
They were very, very good people.
But they weren’t on the narrow road
that Jesus talks about in the next two lines of Scripture.
And what’s frightening?
They didn’t even know they weren’t on the narrow road!
I don’t want to be one of those people.
That’s why I need to pray this daily:
“Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life”
(Psalm 139:23-24 The Message).
Thoughts?
I’m speaking in Decatur, Ill., this weekend.
Will you pray for me?
Not Easy
In Matthew 7:14, Jesus proclaims that the gate leading to heaven is really small. And the road leading to that small gate is extremely narrow.
He goes on to say that few even find it!
How can that be?
We have millions in churches around the world every Sunday!
Could it be that most people who claim to be Christians
really aren’t even on the narrow road?
It’s not easy to be a Christian.
It’s not simply a matter of signing on the dotted line
and reciting words on a screen.
Redemption for sinners cost God His only Son.
It cost Christ His very life.
It will cost us no less.
Real Christianity—genuine faith—transforms the heart.
And when our hearts are changed, our behavior also changes.
Our desires change.
We no longer want the things the world has to offer.
Sin loses its appeal . . .
we hunger for holiness.
We yearn for more of Jesus.
Our hearts cry for intimacy with Him.
Priorities change.
It’s no longer about us.
It becomes all about Him.
EVERYTHING becomes about Him.
Our entertainment.
The way we relax.
How we dress.
How we spend our money.
The way we respond to injustice.
The narrow road isn’t announced
by a large exit sign on the interstate.
It’s found where we least expect it.
Sometimes thorns are seen growing next to it.
Sometimes we hug smelly people,
hold dirty hands
and
love those who are mean
in order to walk on the narrow road.
That’s hard.
But that’s where Jesus walked.
and I want to be inside His footsteps.
Thoughts?
I’m speaking at the East Ohio District Ladies retreat this weekend.
Please pray for us.