Read It: 2 Kings 2:2-3 (NRSV)
2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
Learn It:
Elijah had been a prophet for quite a while in the land of Israel and it was time for him to be taken up into heaven. He had been training Elisha to take his place and it was time for Elijah to be taken up into heaven. Elisha, knowing this, follows him everywhere to try to keep him in his sight so that God won't take him up into heaven just yet. Elisha does this 3 times in fact...see verses 2 (above), 4, and 6. Even a prophet as wonderful as Elisha had doubts and reservations about his calling and about letting someone who had been his mentor go.
Share It:
What kind of reservations do you have about things going on in your life right now? Are you holding onto something from the past that you need to let go? Talk with your family about something that you might be holding on to that you know you need to let go of but can't seem to do it. Is there anything holding you back that prevents you from fully being yourself or keeps you from doing the things that you really want to be doing? What are they and how can you help each other work with them? Share these thoughts and others with your family as they come up during your time together.
Live It:
Take some time this week thinking about those things that you need to let go. Maybe it's a grudge or maybe it's something you've been mad about or sad about. Give a prayer up to God to ask for God to take those things from you and help you to move one and let go of the thing you need to let go. I hope as you move forward in the week that that 'thing' no longer dwells on your heart or mind.
