Week 30
1 Kings 19:11-13 “Behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave, and behold a voice came to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?”
We do not find God where we would expect Him to be. We look for the majestic sovereign ruler of the universe in loud music and extraordinary sensationalism, covered with gaudy glitter and showy color. But God cannot be found in this!
God is found in gentle things, in sweet moments, and in kind deeds. If we are not careful, we will miss God when He passes by.
God’s prophet had experienced a great victory, but great victories are not enough. The victory passes with the moment, no matter how great the victory is. To live in the secure certainty of God, we must look for Him in those places where He reveals Himself to be. These are means of grace: worship, Bible reading, and study, prayer, confession of sin, beseeching His mercy and strength, sweet Christian fellowship, and humbling ourselves before His mighty presence. These are the places where God will be found.
Elijah found God in solitude and in the truth. The truth of God’s Word, His message, will convey Him to us, as we seek His face. Elijah needed correction and encouragement, both of which he got when God revealed Himself. Elijah thought he was finished, but God knew this prophet was not done; he had work to do. What Elijah needed was a renewal of courage and a revitalization of faith. And he got it!
Christian friend, come to the quiet and find God today. Listen carefully to the rich tones of the Scripture speaking to your heart. Try hard to disengage from the distractions all around you and find in Him your roadmap for life. There is work yet to be done, and you must do it; do what God has called you to do. Do God’s work with love, faith, and hope. And remember to rejoice in the goodness of God! God knows what He is doing in your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thought I was ready to be done, but now I don’t think so. Thank You for not giving up on me, for I had given up on myself. But You restore my soul, and I find in You a full sense of passion and joy to continue on and on. Thank You for Your kindness to me in Christ. Amen.