TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” 1 Kings 19:20b
Read: 1 Kings 19:20
Listen: 1 Kings 19
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Elisha’s life has revolved around his family’s farming business and his small town. Immediately his priorities shift. His request to say goodbye is recognizing that his priorities are radically reorienting. His life will be about following the Lord and serving Elijah. Goodbye doesn’t seem to mean “I’ll see you in a few days,” but rather “I’m heading out on a completely different life.” He’s saying, “I love you, but I have to go.” He doesn’t hesitate. He runs.
Our confrontation with Jesus may not have been so dramatic, but it demands the same reorienting of our priorities. In the service this weekend, Pastor Aaron Buer recalled one baptism story where a 12-year old boy talked about his faith being his schedule. That’s what following Jesus looks like. It means letting God’s priorities shift our priorities. It could mean our view of retirement needs to be drastically altered. It could mean we put Small Group on our calendar first and then work our other activities around it. It could mean we pass on playing softball to make attending Lifeline a priority. Following Jesus is a deliberate decision to reorder our life.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Consider whether you’ve made following Jesus your schedule. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what that should look like in your life. What one or two things do you need to change to make following Jesus your schedule?
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
