“When Ahab told Queen Jezebel what Elijah had done, and that he had slaughtered the prophets of Baal, she sent this message to Elijah: “You killed my prophets, and now I swear by the gods that I am going to kill you by this time tomorrow night.” So, Elijah fled for his life; he went to Beersheba, a city of Judah, and left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day, and sat down under a broom bush and prayed that he might die. “I’ve had enough,” he told the Lord. “Take away my life. I’ve got to die sometime, and it might as well be now. “Then he lay down and slept beneath the broom bush. But as he was sleeping, an Angel touched him and told him to get up and eat!He looked around and saw some bread baking on hot stones and a jar of water! So, he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the Angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, for there is a long journey ahead of you.” So, he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, where he lived in a cave. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah? (I Kings 19:1-9 The Living Bible)
This Saturday morning, I have set before you to excerpts from the Scriptures, one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament. In the former, God the Father is asking Elijah a question. In the latter passage, God the Son is asking Saul (Paul) a question. You can read the context of both scriptural extracts today. It’s Saturday. You have some time. Tomorrow is another story because I just know, as always, you will find yourself in the assembly of the saints,
But before you start reading let me elaborate on the title of this meditation. When God asks you a question, a change is in order. He is not intending for you to be the same. When God asks you a question, stimulated by a thought the Holy Spirit puts on your hearts, surmised from your study, or stated in a setting where teaching or preaching takes place; when God ask you a question, He does not want you to be just a good listener, but He wants you to move from good to great in doing kingdom building work. A change is in order. Let me continue now! When God asks a question, He does not want you to repeat it, but He wants you to respond to it! A change is in order. When God asks you a question, He does not want you to procrastinate thinking about a reply, but He wants you to positively respond, remedy what needs to be remedied, fix or to fix again what needs to be repaired, change what needs to be changed, and then keep on climbing! Change is in order. When God asks you a question, He does not want you to merely hear by the functionality of your ears, but He wants you to hear, listen, process what you have heard, put it in your heart, and respond externally in an appropriate way. Change is in order.
Let’s let God ask you the same question above. Considering where you are in your spiritual journey, if you have become stagnant, strayed, or if you are just superficially doing religious things, and if you have not pursued progressive sanctification, not reached for perfection and thus achieving excellence, then the Lord is saying to you, just where you are, “What are you doing here?” Change is in order.
Now, let the Lord ask you the question that He posed below, applicable if you have not held to your duty of being a Christian or if there is some hypocrisy housekeeping you need to do. The Lord is saying to you, asking you by calling your name, “Why are you persecuting me?” Again, it’s Saturday, so take some time and forward this meditation to at least three people. Be blessed!
“As I was on the road, nearing Damascus, suddenly about noon a very bright light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?’” (Acts 22:6-8 The Living Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King