Come and Follow 9-08-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Flood my spirit with Your Spirit until my life flows with Your Life. ... "So (Elijah) set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, 'Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.' Then Elijah said to him, 'Go back again; for what have I done to you?' He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant" (1 Kings 19:19-21). You sent Elijah to anoint Elisha as a prophet -- one who hears and speaks the word of the Lord -- to be ready to take his place in his generation to fulfill his destiny in Your kingdom (v. 19:16). Through Elijah, You didn't force Elisha to accept his calling. You offered the mantle of authority and responsibility that comes through submission to Your means of discipleship. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master" (Matthew 10:24-24, NKJV). It was Elisha's choice of will to follow or not, to enter into the plans and purposes You had ordained for his life or not. And in the mystery of both Your sovereignty and our free will, though You've known eternally Elisha's choice, it was Elisha's choice to make. You set before him the choice You set before each of us: "Choose this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15). Elisha chose well. His surrender to Your call would mark his life and ministry with a "double portion" of Spirit of Elijah, in the fullness of Your timing and purposes (2 Kings 2:9, NKJV). And in Your compassion and mercy, You allowed Elisha room to honor those he loved, entrusting them to Your care; but You also called him to come away on the journey where they would not be able to follow (1 Kings 19:20). You required of him the cost of all he had; but You also used it all to serve others, not wasting anything of the experiences and resources of his life to that point (v. 19:21). Lord, open my eyes to see the teachers You're bringing into my life to disciple me in Your ways. And also to see those You're bringing into my life for me to disciple. Open my ears to hear Your call. Give me wisdom to count the cost of discipleship, faith to know it's worth the price to be fulfilled in the plans You've purposed for my life, and courage to follow wherever You lead in the journey. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). "Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:37-39). Like Elisha, and Elijah before him, and all who have counted the cost to come and follow You wherever You lead, it's my choice to make, in the sovereignty of Your will and purpose for my life. Help me choose well. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15, NKJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com