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And he (Elisha) left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee,
kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
1 Kings 19:20 (NOTE) Elisha
did not mistake his prophetic summons. His response was decisive. He burned his past behind him. How different are those whose
profession is merely external. In serving Elijah, much as Joshua had served under Moses, Elisha would learn that the secret
to a successful ministry lies in having a servant's heart. And he (Jesus) sat down, and called
the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. Mark 9:35 All of those called into the kingdom of God must come as
a servant, as our Master is Jesus Christ (God). On earth we will have spiritual leaders, called pastors, shepherds who will
tend to the congregations, but they can only have a successful ministry if they too present themselves as a servant to the
Lord. We are all but servants in the kingdom of God with no exception. Though God will have our brothers and sisters in Christ
carry different ministerial responsibilities within the service of our Lord, possibly even perform in a leadership capacity;
we are still all servants to the same Master. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus
said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. Matthew 8:21,22 This is a mirror image of salvation. When Jesus comes to our door and knocks, when we open
the door and answer His call we must bury the sinful man of the past with the life of sin we once catered. We must not tarry
but without hesitation except the gift of salvation and move forward through repentance. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee;
but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand
to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:61,62 *Fit occurs elsewhere only in Luke 14:35 and Hebrews 6:7, means "suitable"
or "usable." Someone who puts
life's lesser matters at a greater priority than God's work is of little use to Him. God has made through His son Jesus Christ the availability of salvation. Every person in their lifetime
will have the offer of salvation made to them. Most will reject the offer, while others will hear and answer the calling.
Salvation is freedom, freedom from the bondage of sin, the chains of sin that tie our souls to a dying world and a destination
with eternal death. The freedom of Salvation
of Jesus Christ can only at best be insufficiently described with the tongue of man. We most experience this freedom
through Jesus Christ first hand to truly understand the supernatural release His salvation commands. This salvation in Jesus
Christ demands all spiritual chains bound by sin be loosed from our souls, cut from our wrists, and the demonic
shackles freed from our feet. We cannot expect
to free ourselves of the burdens of our own sin, or the hardships of life's difficulties under our own strength. The strength
of man is nothing when compared to the Almighty, all powerful, hand of God that created the very soul that we have all tried
in vain to save, before failing miserably. No longer challenge yourself with these burdens, give them over to Christ. He wants
our burdens, he wants our service, he wants to love us the way we were created to be loved by him as our Father. I urge you,
hear His voice beyond the door, open and receive His gift of eternal salvation and free yourself of the burdens weighing down
upon your shoulders. Pray for your loved ones. If God can free me of drugs, alcohol, lusts of the flesh, etc... Then what
are you waiting for. God Bless, daniel Take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light. -Jesus Christ Matthew 11:29,30 |