“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” James 5:17 (NIV)
How do we live the most significant life possible? We serve our way into significance. For most of us the words “significant” and “servant” do not go together. There is a man in the Old Testament book of Kings who can show us the way. His name… Elijah! One of the most significant things about Elijah is that he was like us. He was a man of awesome miracles, of powerful actions, and the book of James reminds us that he was just yet like us. Since he is like us we can learn from him some lessons about being a significant servant.
How do we live the most significant life possible? We serve our way into significance. For most of us the words “significant” and “servant” do not go together. There is a man in the Old Testament book of Kings who can show us the way. His name… Elijah! One of the most significant things about Elijah is that he was like us. He was a man of awesome miracles, of powerful actions, and the book of James reminds us that he was just yet like us. Since he is like us we can learn from him some lessons about being a significant servant.
Servant Lesson #1: God is willing and able to meet all of my needs.
Significant servants make that confidence the launching pad of their lives and ministries. God is ABLE - He has the power. God is WILLING - He has the love.
In 1 Kings 17 Elijah learns this lesson beside a brook in the desolate Kirath Ravine. In order to teach him this lesson God does for Elijah what He regularly does for His servants. He reduces life to the basics. Elijah certainly was down to basics! All he had was the water the Lord sent and the food that God delivered… via the “Raven Parcel Service.” God used a raven to bring food to Elijah. God has help where we least expect it! He provides in ways that go beyond our narrow expectations. That’s what we learn when life is reduced to the basics.
The “basics” are simply this: a place of complete and total dependence upon God. In that place God reminds us: we depend on Him alone for all of our needs. Why does God put us in such places? Reducing life to the basics helps to refocus upon God. We recognize again just how dependent upon God we really are. Not our paycheck, not partners, not power, pleasure or prestige. God is the Father who graciously supplies all of our needs.
Pray this Servant’s Prayer: Everything in my life is there because you bring it to me Lord. I'm totally dependent upon you for everything! Every drink of water, every breath, and every bite of food! I commit the rest of my life to service to you! In Jesus’ precious name AMEN!
Family Activity: Make up some “God gave us this” stickers on post it notes and have your kids stick them all over your house to look at today.
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