JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is hospitality to God’s servants.
In Second Kings 4:8, there is a story about a well-to-do woman who urged Elisha to stay for a meal. Whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
Elisha was receptive to their hospitality and expressed his gratitude for their efforts to provide him with a place to stay.
In Matthew 10:41, Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”
Hospitality to God’s Servants is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Kings 6, verse 16.
Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an opposing army who came to take them captive. The servant went out early in the morning to see the horses and chariots around them. He asked Elisha, “What shall we do?”
The prophet answered, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha’s servant saw their adversaries, but Elisha could see the bigger picture. He saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha and his servant defending them.
With eyes of faith, we see the spiritual reality of God’s grace helping us in our daily battles. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to see the power of God’s grace to help us in our time of need in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Elisha.
The king of Aram had sent his horses and chariots to Dothan to surround the city. He did this to find Elisha and capture him.
When they moved into position, the servant of Elisha got up the next day and asked Elisha, “What shall we do?”
The prophet answered, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD,, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Sometimes, it may seem like we are surrounded by trouble. We feel the threats of evil on our soul, and it overwhelms us. But as Elisha saw, there is another reality that brings us hope. We are not alone in our battles. If we are in Christ, God is with us, and He is greater than our strongest foes.
The faithfulness of Elisha to see the bigger picture of the conflict inspires us to face our battles with God in the picture and to live a life of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
