Morning Devotional
November 13, 2004
"Advanced Life (Part 2)"
by Don Emmitte

 

One day the widow of one of Elisha's fellow prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, "My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves." "What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what do you have in the house?" "Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil," she replied. And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting the jars aside as they are filled." So she did as she was told. Her sons brought many jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! "Bring me another jar," she said to one of her sons. "There aren't any more!" he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, "Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and there will be enough money left over to support you and your sons." (2 Kings 4:1-7 NLT).

 

God doesn’t think small. If God is going to bless you, it is going to be big! Better be prepared! The widow had no idea what was about to happen. Elisha told her to prepare. He didn’t ask her to go borrow a jar or two. She was to go get many. God was about to bless her in a mighty way.

 

I’m quite sure this widow was used to disappointment. She knew what it was like to go to the mailbox, expecting a check that never came. She knew the feeling of expecting good news and getting bad. She was preparing herself for the worst, but God had other plans this time. Are you prepared for the worst? Have you been experiencing more bad news than good? Are you waiting for God, but lately it seems that God is nowhere to be found? I know the feeling. This widow did too! God does too!

 

I believe that a lot of our joy is lost in our attitude. I don’t know when to tell you to expect God’s reply to your problems. I certainly don’t know what that reply will be. I do know this, however. You might want to go ahead and collect some more jars, because when God does bless you, it’s going to be a doozy! It’s going to be a big one. God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, doesn’t know how to do things half way. Consider a sunset. Ever seen one that wasn’t perfect? Here’s a bit of verse by Audrey Mieir to inspire you:

 

Be not troubled with thoughts of the morrow,
Of duties you surely must do.
On the Lord cast your burden of sorrow;
It matters to Him about you!

Be not weary when trials are given,
But trust Him to carry you through.
He will make all a pathway to heaven;
It matters to Him about you!

Then be patient until His appearing,
'Tis dawn almost now on your view;
For the mists of this dark age are clearing.
In love He is planning for you!