LightGrams
September 21, 2017
Volume 21, Number 32
Sean Harris’ run of bad decisions began last week when he decided to rob a gas station in LaPorte, Indiana. After suggesting to the clerk that he had a gun, he made off with food, drinks, and cigarettes.
Sean’s second bad decision was revealed soon after his getaway. Police found him standing beside his car on the side of a two-lane highway. His car had run out of gas. If he was going to rob a gas station, he might have at least fueled up his car!
If you’re looking for a few minutes of humorous entertainment, just type “dumb criminals” into the search engine of your web browser. There is no shortage of stories like Sean’s. Those who disregard the laws of the land rarely elude detection.
Elijah was no criminal; but a prophet of God. He had just won a decisive victory over the prophets of Baal when wicked Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. After running for his life for a day, Elijah lay down, exhausted and depressed. He confessed his despair to God: “Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).
After sleeping for a time he was awakened by an angel: “Arise and eat” he was told, and was shown food and water. After eating and sleeping again the angel came a second time: “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you” (1 Kings 19:5-7).
The food Elijah ate that day was clearly not ordinary food, for the text tells us this: “he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights” (1 Kings 19:8). The lesson for us seems obvious: When we accept what God provides we’ll have more than enough stamina for whatever tasks we face.
A similar statement of this principle can be found in Isaiah 40:30,31: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
As followers of Christ we are walking a path that is sometimes strenuous. Can we successfully make it to our destination? “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). But the hill before us is awfully steep. How can we reach the top?
Here’s Paul’s advice: Hold “fast to [Christ], from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). By remaining connected to the Lord, we’ll have strength for the journey.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2017, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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