Yup..i've got a new idol...His name is Elisha...heh. Unfortunately, he died more than 2000 years ago...
Have been doing my Bible reading from 1 Kings. Read about Elisha in chapter 19 and was very impressed by how willing he was to drop EVERYTHING just to follow Elijah. According to a commentary, it is supposed that Elisha came from a relatively rich family. Yet, when Elijah threw his cloak around him (as a symbol of making Elisha his successor as God's messenger), Elisha was ready to leave all he had to follow Elijah.
The Bible says, 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 attendant."
Can you imagine? He had 12 yokes of oxen. That's 24 oxen! He slaughtered them all, burnt the equipment to use as 'firewood' for cooking the oxen he slaughtered! He didn't even try to sell the meat to get 'back-up' cash in case following Elijah didn't work out for him. He didn't slaughter some and keep some, just in case. He didn't keep his equipment in the storeroom, just in case. This rich guy with his own field and 24 oxen (that's a whole lot of meat!!) and his own plowing equipment dropped everything and followed an older man. Not only that, he became Elijah's ATTENDANT! phew...
Started thinking about this in the modern day context. It means when God calls us to the mission field, we say bye to our parents and relatives, submit our resignation letter at work immediately, selling our laptops... and if we are doctors that would mean also burning the err..stethoscope, thermometers and stuff?? If we are teachers, it would mean burning or giving away our resources, assessment books and other teacherly wares (whoppieee!)... heh. yeah. can u imagine? Oh, and selling our $300,000 worth HDB flat (for those blessed enough to have it) and giving the money away to NKF or Salvation Army or something... mind-boggling isn't it? Feel the pinch already d'ya??
All these Elisha did without questions, without second thoughts, without regrets.
Is he your idol too already??
(For the full story, pls see here)
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If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
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The Tale of Despereaux Rating: ***
Chinese Cinderella Rating: ****
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society Rating: ***
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis Letters from Screwtape, a veteran devil, to his amateur nephew. Reveals truths about the Church and christians today. Insightful but heavy.
Creating a Web Page with HTML Just bought this from Popular not too long ago. Essential for a computer dodo like me. Pretty user-friendly lay-out and the colours in there help =)
The NIV Study Bible Started this sometime middle or late last year. Progress real slow. This current read's gonna take a long time. At 1 Chron 7 now. To those on the Bible-reading programme too...Jia you!
17 January 2005
posted by j at 1/17/2005 01:34:00 PM
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Elisha's a great example... but I prefer the disciples of Jesus... They too left all they had but they had human faults which showed at first when they said "But we have left everything to follow You!"... Yet they went on to establish the church of Christ... As some may say, "It's about how you finish."