Passage of the Day:
So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good,” 1 Kings 18:20-24.
Reflection:
In hockey, lacrosse and soccer, penalties can result in one team playing a man down during a power play or the rest of the game if a red card is issued. During this year’s COPA Soccer Tournament, the United States played the last 81 minutes of their match with one less player, eventually losing 2-1. When things begin to fall apart in any contest, coaches and players can panic as time on the clock ticks away. As for Elijah, he was outnumbered 450 to 1, yet God gave him an idea that he believed would work. Participating in a spiritual duel, Elijah remained cool and confident, believing that God could and would bring fire down from heaven.
Prayerful Action:
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again,” 1 Kings 18L36-37.
Working Out Your Salvation:
Whenever I have been blessed by a spiritual mountaintop experience like Elijah, I feel like I can do anything. Unfortunately, human nature tends to allow individuals to become overconfident. One chapter after successfully calling fire down from heaven, Elijah wanted to die, surprised by Jezebel’s death threat, 1 Kings 19:3-4. Just as C.S. Lewis reminds Christians in Mere Christianity, success is the process of arriving, not actual arriving. Christian maturity comes from the journey of faith throughout one’s life. While it’s easy to panic when you’re in a no-win situation, trust in the Lord and He will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:5-6.
Song of the Day:
The image of Elijah entering into a spiritual duel with 450 prophets of Baal brought the attached song to my mind. May the lyrics of Holy War inspire you to trust in God’s power rather than the mountain of doubt standing in your way on earth.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 