Bible League: Living His Word When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing.One of the sons of the prophets died. His wife and children were left in dire straits financially. All she had was a jar of oil. She turned to Elisha, the greatest prophet of the day, for help. Elisha told her to "borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few" (II Kings 4:3). He also told her to fill the vessels from her jar of oil. The oil kept flowing from the jar until all the vessels were full. Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay her debts, and live on the rest. Like the widow, you may be in deep trouble. What will you do? Will you simply give up and not do anything at all? Will you keep doing what you have been doing and hope for the best? Will you try as hard as you can to reverse your circumstances on your own or with the help of friends? The widow didn't do any of these things. The widow first turned to the Lord for help. She turned to Elisha, the Lord's prophetic representative on the earth. The widow first turned to the Lord because she knew that only the Lord could truly help her. Surely she had no specific idea of how the Lord could help. She just knew that He could help. She just knew that nothing is too hard for God (Genesis 18:14). She had the faith necessary to believe that God could and would do something for her. Even though things looked hopeless, she did not give up hope. The widow's story teaches us that the provision of the Lord, His ability to help, is unlimited. No doubt oil would have continued to flow from the jar if she had more vessels. After she saw what happened, she was probably sorry that she didn't borrow even more of them. There was no limit on the Lord's supply of oil. The only limit was the number of vessels the widow borrowed. The only limit was the faith of the widow. We should always remember that the Lord is "able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). The only limit is our faith (Matthew 13:58). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 38, 39 Jeremiah 38 -- Jeremiah Thrown into the Dungeon of Malkijah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 39 -- Jerusalem Is Taken; Zedekiah and the People Captivated NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 1 Hebrews 1 -- Jesus is Superior to Angels NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Insight Paul was content because he could see life from God's point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Challenge Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person's life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 36:9 In thy light shall we see light.No lips can tell the love of Christ to the heart till Jesus himself shall speak within. Descriptions all fall flat and tame unless the Holy Ghost fills them with life and power; till our Immanuel reveals himself within, the soul sees him not. If you would see the sun, would you gather together the common means of illumination, and seek in that way to behold the orb of day? No, the wise man knoweth that the sun must reveal itself, and only by its own blaze can that mighty lamp be seen. It is so with Christ. "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:" said he to Peter, "for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee." Purify flesh and blood by any educational process you may select, elevate mental faculties to the highest degree of intellectual power, yet none of these can reveal Christ. The Spirit of God must come with power, and overshadow the man with his wings, and then in that mystic holy of holies the Lord Jesus must display himself to the sanctified eye, as he doth not unto the purblind sons of men. Christ must be his own mirror. The great mass of this blear-eyed world can see nothing of the ineffable glories of Immanuel. He stands before them without form or comeliness, a root out of a dry ground, rejected by the vain and despised by the proud. Only where the Spirit has touched the eye with eye-salve, quickened the heart with divine life, and educated the soul to a heavenly taste, only there is he understood. "To you that believe he is precious;" to you he is the chief corner-stone, the Rock of your salvation, your all in all; but to others he is "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence." Happy are those to whom our Lord manifests himself, for his promise to such is that he will make his abode with them. O Jesus, our Lord, our heart is open, come in, and go out no more forever. Show thyself to us now! Favour us with a glimpse of thine all-conquering charms. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.Psalm 72:2-7 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice. • Let the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. • May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor. • Let them fear You while the sun endures, And as long as the moon, throughout all generations. • May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth. • In his days may the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace till the moon is no more. Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Luke 1:78,79 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, • TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." Acts 10:36 "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)-- John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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