Today our devotional journey with Elijah and the widow of Zarephath continued as he asked her for water and a small cake of bread…. What she discovers in accommodating the request of Elijah is a glory story from which we may all learn…
1 Kings 17:12-14
12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
The widow in this story was preparing to die when Elijah offers her a means to live by trusting God and sharing what she has and she is willing to try it. Are we sharing what we have with those who know only despair and the prospect of death? We bring the Bread of Life to those who know only the meager dregs left at the bottom of the bowl and flask.
This is “kingdom”……. trusting in God’s Presence, Goodness, Sovereignty, and Personal Love for each who chooses to enter into its construction in this realm and abide in it …… It transcends geography, gender, social or economic status, or political loyalty. The rain falls and the drought comes to the just and the unjust but those who walk humbly with God will find provision, fellowship and healing awaiting them, as Elijah did and as he brought the widow of Zarephath to understand, as well….. she who was preparing to die, but who learned to trust God’s kingdom and thrived even in drought. God’s kingdom is not of this world but it exists alongside it….. Those who know God, who will trust His instruction, and whose eyes can see and whose ears can hear know that its citizens, the children of the Father in heaven do, in fact, live in the Spirit of Acts 2:
“42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”
Jesus told us we would continue living in the midst of our enemies, even as we draw together, apart from the world for the common good of the kingdom. We don’t live “taken out of the world” but we attend to the needs of the citizens of the kingdom of God and we self- identify as children of God in heaven by participating in the same way…. we find one another and are provided for as God directs by His Spirit…
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
The key to kingdom life is in learning to love “perfectly” as God loves. It takes surrender to learn His ways and walk in them…… to keep a stewardship perspective on all one has and make it available for the building up of the kingdom as God directs day by day. Such availability and readiness makes us “living stones” that God can move into place and set in the building of His kingdom….. just as Nehemiah and faithful citizens set about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem we are called to be stones in rebuilding walls where God’s people may dwell in safety, even in the midst of enemies…..