A Cup Of Water . . . A Bite Of Bread

So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." (I Kings 17: 10-11, NLT).

Some friends manage an inner city ministry that seeks to help those who are unable to help themselves. They help people that live under bridges and in cardboard box shelters. This is the time of year that many of these people suffer and become gravely ill from harsh living conditions.

The prophet, Elijah, lived in a place with the harsh reality of famine and drought. Most of us really don't understand what it would be like to live with little to none food and water supplies. The thing is . . . Elijah did not give up . . . he did not let the situation stop him from moving forward with God. When God said go . . . Elijah went . . . he didn't stop to explain (with a hint of sarcasm) . . . "a little busy here." Nor did he complain about having nothing. He got up and took the pathway that God asked him to take. He received a cup of water and a bite of bread.

He went to a place called Zarepath which means smelting shop, a place where metals were refined and smelted.
Webster defines the words refine and smelt:
Refine: “To free (as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material.”
Smelt: “To melt or fuse (as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal.”

Challenging circumstances become a Zarepath: they refine and smelt us. What does this mean?

Both Elijah and the widow chose to believe in the provision of God rather than working in vain to fix things on their own. We go to our Zarepath via difficulties and receive a cup of water and a bite of bread. In other words, we commune with Christ who is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Our sustenance of life is Christ.

Move through your difficulties to Zarepath.
Go through the refining and smelting process.
Receive the Living Water and the Bread of Life, who is Christ.
Live.
Learning with you to receive the Water and Bread as sustenance,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)