MAY 11, 2023

 

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” 
― William G.T. Shedd

2 KINGS 1-3

9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.13Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

JOHN 3:22-36

27To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.”^h31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for Godⁱ gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

JOURNAL 

Here is the beauty of the Gospel. Power and love are from God. It is not dependent on man or society or government. Those that believe are part of the kingdom despite, race, religion, male or female. God loves and gives, do I willingly receive? 

This is the grace that says that I can be rejected by the world but will never be rejected by God once I accept his love. I have a kingdom that will never fail and that will always welcome me with open arms. I don't have to measure up to the expectations of others or worry about acceptance. I am accepted and loved. Amazingly that invitation is available to everyone. They can receive the spirit and be part of the kingdom. 

What a message, what a hope! For this reason I am not designed to shrink back from life but rather to fully take it on. For I have the God of creation within, therefore there is no reason to allow doubts or fears or the past to deter me from conquering today. Today is to be lived fully and without reservation, without inhibition. 

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

 2 Timothy 1:6-7