Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 11, 2022
Read 2 Kings 6:1-7
1 The members of the group of prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we now live under your authority is too small for us. 2 Let’s go to the Jordan River and each get a log from there. Then we can make a place to live there.” Elisha said, “Do it!” 3 One of them said, “Please come with us, your servants.” Elisha said, “Okay, I’ll go.” 4 So he went with them. They came to the Jordan River and began cutting down trees. 5 One of them was cutting down a tree when his ax head fell into the water. He cried out, “Oh, no! Master, it was a borrowed ax!” 6 The man of God said, “Where did it fall?” He showed Elisha the place. Elisha then cut a piece of wood, threw it into the river there, and the ax head floated up. 7 “Lift it out,” Elisha said. So the man then reached out and grabbed it.
Good morning! Accept God’s love as a gift of joy!
What an interesting passage! Admittedly, I have spent much less time reading parts of the Old Testament, so I am often reading these passages anew. What an interesting story!
First, it is noteworthy that Elisha’s ministry is growing and he and his trainees need a larger place to gather and live. When the ax head fell in the water, the servant was distraught because he had borrowed the ax. Elisha’s act of throwing a stick in the water did not cause the ax head to float. Iron is heavy and only a miracle would allow it to float up. Elisha threw the stick as a sign of his faith in God. When the ax head appeared, Elisha asked the one who lost it to pick it up. This action allowed the servant to become an active participant in the miracle.
Through this miracle, we learn that God can provide for us what we need, but that we must choose to accept what we are given. God didn’t simply put the head of the ax into the hands of the one who lost it. The ax head appeared in the water and was available to be retrieved.
God presents gifts and signs to us as we journey along our paths of faith. Only when our hearts are open to God, can we “see” what is clearly before us. God wants to be in a relationship with us. You know the old saying that “it takes two to tango”. Well, a relationship requires interaction. How long would you continue sending a letter to someone who never answers it? We would likely continue for a while, but then the letter-writing would cease.
The Good News is that God never gives up on us. God sent Jesus to be our advocate through whom we have a direct link to God. Even when we fail to see or accept our gifts, God will keep presenting them to us until we are ready. What a mighty God we serve!
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. You are mighty and loving. We are weak and lost. Through Christ, You have redeemed us. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God’s miracles are all around us, waiting for us to accept them.
Open yourself to God! Pastor Liz
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