NOTES for Ki1 19:19-21

What an astonishing example Elisha gives us! What do we see? A man working in the field, and working with his own cattle, which means he is rather well off. And then he commits a "reckless" act: in a single moment he decides to follow Elijah, leaving everything he has. And how does he decide, after what? A doubting heart would hardly understand a "thrown mantle" as an unambiguous sign from God (1 Kings 19:19)... And Elijah himself then asks Elisha, "What have I done to you?" (1 Kings 19:20), thereby giving him yet another opportunity to doubt... But for Elisha yes is yes and no is no (see Matt 5:37).

The thought that appeared in his heart, that this is what God wants, immediately turns into readiness to fulfill His will, followed by action. May the Lord give us the same strength to make the right choice when there dawns in the heart even a very faint, but still real, understanding of what is better for Him...

We sometimes look around and think: "well, other people live without God, and live not badly than we!" It seems to us that the question of "with or without God " is at the level of " worse or better ". God says that the level is completely different: it is life or death. Because genuine life for the human being created by God is not to just drinking, eating, sleeping, working, reproducing, to be sick and to die, but is to love God, to dwell with Him in His life, filled of love. In such a way that our life would also be filled with this love that "never faileth" (1 Cor. 13:8).