Stuffing

Following a difficult call

"If the Jesus you are following is not leading you into the realm of the impossible to make changes in your world, you are probably following the wrong one." Francis Frangipane in This Day We Fight!

I reading the Francis Frangipane book, which is REALLY good, as well as mulling on 1 Kings 18 that we read at Kim's Church.

In that one chapter God asks 2 people to do difficult things. First, Elijah tells Obadiah, a servant of Ahab to go and tell Ahab that he is here. Now Obadiah doesn't want to do this because he knows that Ahab hates Elijah and has looked all over for him and if he goes and tells him and then Elijah doesn't show up then Ahab will be really mad and will kill Obadiah. I'm just imagining this, as it's what goes through my head when I talk about spiritual things with people who I know hate God. What if I say the wrong thing? What if God doesn't show up?

But Elijah comforts him and says don't worry I'll show up. But as far as I can tell in the Bible, Elijah doesn't go with him. I'd be like- come on Elijah. So Obadiah has to trust in Elijah and go out on his own to face Ahab. And Elijah does show up.

I think what God tells Elijah to do is much harder. He has to go and face the man who wants to kill him and then challenge him to a competition! When he arrives to see Ahab, Ahab accuses him of causing trouble for Israel. Which is the way your enemies see you. Always causing trouble. But Elijah says No, that's you. But instead of getting into an argument with Ahab he swiftly moves on to why he came- for that impossible challenge. Which happens to be possible with God.

From Francis again:
Get used to the idea that Jesus is seeking to perfect your faith. Plan on the fact that He will probably set you in some otherwise impossible situation to force your faith to the surface. Sooner or later, the real Jesus will require you to look the impossible straight in the eye and believe God for His power.

posted by Aphra @ 2/27/2007 09:32:00 AM