DAD'S REPUTATION -- A Good Reputation

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A Good Reputation
II Kings 3:11-12
 
"But Jehoshaphat said, 'Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?' So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, 'Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.' And Jeshoshaphat said, 'The word of the LORD is with him.' So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him."
 
Moab had rebelled, and these three kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom were on their way to quell the rebellion. But Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, wanted to have a word from the LORD concerning their venture. Elijah had developed a reputation, first as a protégée, disciple, and servant of Elijah, and then as a prophet in his own right as a man who knew God. A reputation as a servant and as a person who knows God is a goal to strive for.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A reputation as a servant and godly person is a good and desirable thing.
 
Have a "good" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Pleasant Life

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Pleasant Life
 
II Kings 2:19, 21

"Then the men of the city said to Elisha, 'Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground is barren.' ... Then [Elisha] went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have healed [margin: purified] this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness." ' "
 
So I ask myself, "Why would anyone build a city in a place where there is bad water?" Water is the source of life, and without it there is only death and barrenness or emptiness. No matter how "pleasant" the place is, it is not worth it. Yet I see people around me who are trying to build a pleasant, happy life, but their basic life-source is rotten. Even the most pleasant life will be empty and barren without Jesus, the Water of Life. The water needs to be purified at the source, which only the Lord God can do. It is better to live a life not so pleasant than live without Jesus.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Jesus, the Water of Life, gives purpose, and fruitfulness to an empty life.
 
Have a "good water" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Accepting New Leadership

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Accepting New Leadership
II Kings 2:15
 
"Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, 'The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.' And the came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him."
 
These sons of the prophets recognized that the power of Elijah now rested on Elisha. But they could not let go of the old. So they sent their servants to search for Elijah (vss. 16-18). Sometimes it is difficult for people to accept new leadership. When a pastor who has had a long and fruitful ministry in a church resigns or dies, and is succeeded by a new pastor, often the new minister does not stay very long because the parishioners long for the old and the familiar. No prophet lasts forever, and God raises up a new generation to carry on the work of the kingdom. Being stuck in the past does not help the work of the kingdom go forward.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Accepting change of leadership is vital for the ongoing ministry.
 
Have an "accepting" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- An Up-To-Date Experience

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – An Up-To-Date Experience
II Kings 2:13-14
 
"He also took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan....and struck the water, and said, 'Where is the LORD God of Elijah?' And when he had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elijah crossed over."
 
Elijah was not content to live in the past on prior experience. He wanted an up-to-date miracle. He could have made the mantle of Elijah an museum piece, as a reminder of the "good old days" when God made the waters of the Jordan part (vs. 8). It is good to remember those times in the past when I experienced the blessings of God. But I can't live there. I need God's miracle in the "now." Where is the LORD God of Elijah? He is still doing things today just like He did yesterday. I want to experience God's presence today.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: It is not enough to remember past spiritual experience; God wants to do things today if we will seek Him.
 
Have an "up-to-date" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Loss Of Spiritual Giants

TODAY'S RAMBLINGS – The Loss of Spiritual Giants
II Kings 2:12
 
"And when Elisha saw it, he cried out, 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horseman.' So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them into two pieces."
 
Elisha's grief at the departure of Elijah was not just because he had lost a personal friend and mentor, but because the nation had lost a spiritual giant. The true strength of a nation is not in its political leaders or its military might, but in its spiritual fiber. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 33:12). The death of a godly person is a great loss to any nation.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: People who love and serve God are the true strength of any nation.
 
Thank God today for spiritual leaders. Love you.
 

OOPS!!

In Dad's Ramblings, that should be II Kings.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Come On! Let's Go!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Come On!  Let's Go!
I Kings 2:11
 
"Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
 
What a scene that must have been – a chariot and horses of fire in a whirlwind. The driver (maybe even Yahweh Adonai) must have said, "Come on, Elijah, let's go!" So Elijah stepped into the chariot and away he went. I don't want to carry the analogy too far, but someday there will be a departure of those who love and serve the Lord, while others will be left. The Lord will descend from heaven, there will be a trumpet sound and a voice of the archangel will say, "Come on up," and those who are in Christ will be raptured into heaven (I Thessalonians 4:16). This will be a grand exit, greater than anything Hollywood could dream up. What a wonderful time that will be when we hear the voice say, "Come." Hallelujah!!! I'm ready!  Let's Go!
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Just as Elijah went to heaven without dying, so some day in the future, believers will also go to heaven without dying.
 
Have a "Come, Lord Jesus" day (Revelation 22:17).
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Stay Close

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Stay Close
I Kings 2:10
 
"So [Elijah] said, 'You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken up from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.' "
 
The responsibility for the passing of the mantle rested on Elisha. He had to stay close to Elijah. I can imagine there were many things that could have distracted him and drawn him away. But receiving the spirit of Elijah was a priority for Elisha. If I want the mantle of the Spirit of Jesus to rest on my life, it must be a priority. I must stay close to Him, and not be pulled away by other endeavors, no matter how good they may be. My responsibility is to walk close to Jesus.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The mantle of the Spirit falls on those who stay close to Jesus.
 
Have a "close" day. Love you
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A Last Request

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A Last Request
II Kings 2:9
 
"And so it was, when they had crossed over that Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?' Elisha said, 'Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.' "
 
Elijah was about leave this world, and his ministry, as a prophet to a nation and as a personal mentor to Elisha, was coming to a close. The torch would be passed. Elijah's offer expresses his affection for his pupil, and Elisha's answer shows his profound respect for his mentor: "I want to be like you." No greater compliment can be given to another person than to emulate that person. Elisha did not ask for money or position. His request showed Elisha's true heart.  He wanted a spiritual blessing, even greater than Elijah's.  This is a probing question:  If I was in Elisha's shoes, what would my last request be?
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The desire for spiritual blessing outweighs every other possible legacy.
 
Have an "asking" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- God Can Do It Again!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – God Can Do It Again!
II Kings 2:8
 
"Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground."
 
It has been 500 years since Moses smote the water of the Jordan and the Israelites crossed over on dry ground. I can imagine that as they walked on the dry river-bed, Elisha turned to Elijah with and exclaimed with awe and excitement, "Wow! God did it again!" Knowing that God has done the miraculous in the past – whether in the Bible, in history, or in my own life – gives me faith to believe that God can do it again.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Faith to believe God for the miraculous comes from knowing that He has done it in the past and He can do it again.
 
Have a "do it again" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Spectators and Participants

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Spectators and Participants
II Kings 2:7
 
"And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan."
 
This sounds like a football game, with 10,000 in the stands watching 22 players on the field. There will always be spectators and participants – those who stand at a distance watching what God is doing, and participants who are involved. The spectators will always outnumber the participants by at least fifty to two. I want to be a part of what God is doing – not just a bystander watching the game.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: In God's kingdom, there are spectators on the fringe who are watchers, and there are participants who are in the middle of God's work.
 
Have a "participating" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Committed Follower

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Committed Follower
II Kings 2:1-2
 
"And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.' But Elijah said, 'As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.' "
 
Elijah and Elisha's journey started in Gilgal, on the plain near the Jordan. Then they walked across the mountains to Bethel, then back across the mountains to Jericho (which was near Gilgal where they started), and then to the Jordan River. They went from the plain to the mountains, back to the plain, and then to the river. There were no ministries recorded in any of these places, so what was the purpose? It must have seemed like they were just wandering from place to place. At each fork in the road, Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here," and each time Elisha answered, "I will not leave you." It seemed that Elisha's commitment was being tested. I think that every follower of the Lord Jesus at one time or another has the temptation to quit when the road seems too steep, or too long, or just seems to meander with no obvious purpose. And some do leave the path to do their own thing. Even some of the followers of Jesus quit following. "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life' " (John 6:66-68). The blessing of God is for those who are totally committed to following Jesus no matter where the path may lead, even when it seems too hard, or seems to be going in circles with no obvious purpose. The winding road eventually leads to crossing Jordan into heaven and eternal life. I will follow you, Lord Jesus, even when I don't understand.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Following the path where Jesus leads takes commitment, but it leads to heaven.
 
Have a committed day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Man Of God

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Man of God
II Kings 1:9-10
 
"Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on top of a hill. And he spoke to him: 'Man of God, the king has said, "Come down." ' So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, 'If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.' And fire came down and consumed him and his fifty."
 
I must admit that this is a baffling incident (verses 9-15). Two times the king sent 51 soldiers to get Elijah, and both times they were consumed by fire. Finally, the third time, God said to Elijah to go with them. Why did 102 innocent men who were simply following the orders of their king have to die? I don't know. What I do know is that it is dangerous to attack a Man of God. There are consequences, not only for those directly involved, but also for the families. I've seen it again and again – church members who rebel against a preacher and the innocent families who suffer the consequences. The lesson: Don't trifle with a Man of God.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: There are dire consequences for attacking a Man of God.
 
Have a respectful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Identification

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Identification
II Kings 1:7-8
 
(The messengers returned to King Ahaziah and told him what the prophet had said.) "Then [Ahaziah] said to them, 'What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?' So they answered him, 'A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.' And he said, 'It is Elijah the Tishbite.' "
 
Azahiah did not have any trouble identifying the prophet just by the description given by the messengers. The question is: Would anyone be able to identify me as a Christian by a description of me?
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: There should be some identifying characteristics of a Christian.
 
Have an "identity" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Is There No God?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Is There No God?
II Kings 1:1-3
 
"Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. Now Ahazaiah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, 'Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.' But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, the Tishbite, 'Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?" ' "
 
Ahaziah had succeeded his father, Ahab, as king, and he walked in the way of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and other nations (I Kings 22:52-53). So he turned to the god he had been trained to believe in – Baal-zebub. Baal had replaced God as the God of the Israelites. (Note: By the time of Jesus, the Pharisees thought Beelzebub had power as the ruler of demons. See Matthew 12:24.) When people walk away from the true God, they will seek solutions to their problems in a false god – science, education, economic prosperity, military might, psychology, or psychics and the occult. Is there no God in America? Apparently not because people seek the answers to life's dilemmas everywhere but from the true God.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: People show what God they put their faith in by where they turn to seek answers.
 
Have a "God-seeking" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Listening To The Majority

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Listening To The Majority
I Kings 22:37-38
 
"So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, while the harlots bathed, according to the word of LORD which He has spoken [through Elijah]."
 
This chapter is the story of Ahab's death – an ignominious death because he would not listen to the prophet of the Lord. (It is interesting that he is referred to as "the king of Israel" throughout the chapter, instead of "King Ahab"). Although he had humbled himself before the Lord three years earlier, it was a superficial repentance, and he still did not revere the word of the Lord. When faced with a decision about going to war with Syria, he called 400 prophets who told him what he wanted to hear. There was one prophet, Micaiah, but Ahab hated him "because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (vs. 8). So Ahab spurned the true word of the Lord and followed the word of the false prophets. As a result, he died in battle, and Elijah's prophecy came true – the dogs licked his blood in Samaria, Naboth's home town (I Kings 21:19). Even though "in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14), the majority is not always right.  The natural tendency is to like people who agree with me.  But I need to be careful to not accept the word of the majority just because they support my opinions.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The consensus of the majority is not always right; sometimes the lone voice of dissent is the truth.
 
Have a "listening" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Grace To The Humble

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Grace To The Humble
I Kings 21:27-29
 
"So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.' "
 
God is gracious and merciful. When Ahab humbled himself in repentance, God was moved to forgive, even though the consequences of Ahab's ungodliness would only be delayed to the next generation. Even when a person repents, the next generation will still suffer because they have been affected by the father's sins, and they will follow in their father's footsteps. This is not the end of the story. But is an example of the wonderful grace and mercy of God toward those who will humble themselves before Him.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God is gracious to forgive those who humble themselves before Him in repentance.
 
Have a humble day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Sold! (Or Sold Out)

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Sold!
I Kings 21:20a, 25-26a
 
"And [Elijah] answered, 'I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:' .... But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols...."
 
Ahab was not a good steward of the life and resources God gave him. He sold himself – gave himself wholly – to doing evil and behaving abominably. He was influenced by his wife, but ultimately, the choice was his. Everyone chooses what he is going to sell himself to – what he is going to spend his life on. The question is whether the profit or return on the sale is worth the cost.  I choose to sell myself out to God.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Everyone sells himself out to something – either for evil or for good.
 
Have a "sold-out" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Friend or Enemy?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Friend or Enemy?
I Kings 21:17-20a
 
"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah, the Tishbite, saying, 'Arise, go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it. You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the LORD, 'Have you murdered and also taken possession? ...In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.' " ' So Ahab said to Elijah, 'Have you found me, O my enemy?' "
 
Ahab thought Elijah was his enemy because he identified Ahab's sin and pronounced judgment. The human psyche does not accept criticism and judgment well because they attack a person's ego and self-worth, his very personhood. But the messenger that identifies a blind spot is not an enemy. God says, "Open rebuke is better than love concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend...." (Proverbs 27:5-6a). This is difficult for me personally, because I don't like to be criticized. I would be a better person if I could accept rebuke as a friend showing love rather than as an enemy attacking me.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Someone who identifies a problem in my life should not be considered an enemy, but a friend.
 
Have a "friendly" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Complicity

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Complicity
I Kings 21:8
 
"And [Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth."
 
Jezebel hatched a plan to kill Naboth using other people to do the crime (verses 9-14). A cursory reading of the account seems to leave the impression that Ahab was ignorant of this conspiracy against Naboth, until you come to verse 19, when it becomes apparent that Ahab was aware of it. "Then God told Elijah to go to Ahab and say, 'Thus says the LORD: "Have you murdered and also taken possession?" ' " Ahab was complicit and accountable because, even though Jezebel and others did the dirty work, he was aware of it, and by his silence condoned it. If I do not speak out against evil that I am aware of, I am as guilty as those who do it.  Lord, give me the courage to speak out against sin. 
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Condoning evil by my silence makes me a party to it by association.
 
Have a "speaking out" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Power Of A Wife

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Power Of A Wife
I Kings 21:5, 7
 
"But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him,'Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?' .... Then Jezebel his wife said to him, 'You now exercise authority over Israel. Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.' "
 
It seems significant that the writer of this story referred to Jezebel twice as "his wife." Wives are a powerful force in the lives of their husbands. Jezebel knew how to get to Ahab's ego – "You are king! You have the authority! Act like a man!" Here I quote my wife: "Why is it always the woman who causes problems?" There was Eve tempting Adam; there was Sarah pushing Abe to go to Hagar; there was Zipporah chiding Moses; there was Job's wife urging him to give up and die; and Sapphira was as implicit in the money grab as was Ananias; and then there was Jezebel. Quite often, the wife is more aggressive than the husband, and is truly "the neck that turns the head." When that aggressive nature is unchecked, it can be devastating; but when channeled into godliness – ala the "virtuous wife" of Proverbs 31 – it is a thing to be praised, just as David blessed his future wife Abigail (whose name incidentally means "cause of delight"), because she kept him from committing an evil act (see I Samuel 25, especially verses 32-33). Lord, thank you for godly wives.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A wife can be a powerful influence, either to sin or to godliness.
 
Have a "Proverbs 31" day. Love you.