Beyond the Weekend

March 25 | The Call of Elisha

March 25, 2019

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah… [Elisha] took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. 1 Kings 19:19b-21

Read: 1 Kings 19:19-21

Listen: 1 Kings 19

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Elisha may have heard the rumors that the great prophet Elijah was in the area as he was minding his own business farming. Suddenly, the prophet Elijah approaches and throws his cloak on him. This wasn’t just someone loaning another person a coat—this was life-changing. The direction of Elisha’s life monumentally shifts. Instead of taking over the family farming operation, Elisha is now Elijah’s assistant.

We have probably never undergone something so outwardly significant (or bizarre) as Elijah throwing his cloak on Elisha. From that moment, Elisha follows Elijah faithfully. Through this story, we see four things that help us follow Jesus faithfully. We see that following places four demands on our priorities, identity, community and heart. This story has something for us whether we are just beginning to follow Jesus, returning to following him or have been following him for years.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Choose to follow today. Elisha made one major decision to follow Elijah and didn’t turn back. Then every day for the next 18 years, he woke up to serve as Elijah’s assistant. It was one big decision followed by hundreds of small decisions. Following Jesus is the same way. If you haven’t made the big decision to follow Jesus, take that step today. If you have questions, we’d love to talk with you about it. Email us at btw@adabible.org. If you have made the big decision to follow Jesus, make the decision again today to follow wherever he leads you.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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