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 2 Corinthians 12:9 For my strength is made perfect in weakness.A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up. "When I am weak then am I strong, Grace is my shield and Christ my song." Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,1 Peter 4:12,13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; • but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. Hebrews 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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