Discipleship

February 9, 2021

Scripture Reading:
2 Kings 2:1-12

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. –2 Kings 9:12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. –Hebrews 12:1-3

Losing a mentor is tough. It marks the time when one is left alone without that steadfast presence of the one who has guided us thus far.  No wonder Elisha grasped his clothing and tore them in pieces at Elijah’s departure. Asking for a double share of Elijah’s spirit tells me Elisha was ready to step out in faith and fulfill his calling.

I also like the statement from Hebrews quoted above. We have an entire history of God’s acts and followers on which to build our work. That great cloud of witnesses ebbed and flowed over time. Large crowds gathered around Jesus. Yet, his Word was shared by a few until it reached the whole earth. Remnant is the word often used in the Bible to describe those small groups who preserver and keep the faith.

If we are feeling like a remnant, that may be a good thing to be. My mother was an excellent seamstress. She preferred to create something new from used clothing, like the clothing Elisha tore from his body. Mom used every piece of fabric available. Her favorite quilt was called a crazy quilt. It consisted of little fragments of cloth sewn together, perhaps trimmed a bit, in every which way until it became a thing of beauty that was also a source of warmth during the coldest times. I think right now; we are being called to be the remnants that gather to bring the beauty and warmth of God’s love to a divided world.

Prayer: Lord, piece us together to bring your loving warmth to the whole world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.