But Elijah replied,
"Give me your son."
And he took the boy's body from her,
carried him up to the upper room,
where he lived,
and laid the body on his bed.
(I Kings 17:19, NLT).
Martin Luther King, Jr. had such a profound impact on the United States that we take time to celebrate his life and dreams. His inspirational message, I Have A Dream, continues to echo through the hearts of those who can see the possibilities beyond today. King's memorable words include:
I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man that saw life through his faith. He saw beyond the moment.
People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that persevere in the face of adversity and move forward.
People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that make life lasting changes.
People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that God uses to inspire others.
The prophet Elijah could see beyond the possibilities of the moment. Well, actually I suppose that is what prophets are supposed to do . . . to see beyond the moment in time. The writer of I Kings 17 paints the picture of death and devastation. The widow’s son had drawn his last breath and died. It is not too difficult to imagine the widow’s hysterical grief. Elijah responded to the widow’s grief by taking the boy to his bed. Okay . . . take a moment . . . and think about this scene . . . we are not given any clue of what Elijah was thinking . . . but . . . well . . . YIKES . . . he picked up the boy’s body and moved him upstairs to his upper room . . . to his own bed. Who does that?
So what do we know about Elijah that would motivate him to take such strange actions? He had faith . . . he had experienced life through faith . . . he saw circumstances through faith . . . he saw beyond the moment.
The Apostle Paul prayed for Christ followers to see with faith:
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. (Ephesians 1:17-19).
Seek Christ for new vision.
Refuse to see life through faithlessness.
Take another look at your circumstances through the lens of faith.
Allow the Spirit to give you wisdom and revelation.
With the eyes of your heart enlightened see the possibilities beyond today.
Learning with to you to see possibilities beyond today,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
