Responding to God's Call

The Call of Elisha

¹⁹ So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. ²⁰ Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

²¹ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Reflections on 1 Kings 19:19-21 Responding to God's Call

v.19 God's choice: God chooses who He wants to call to serve Him. In the OT this was done through prophets. Elijah choosing Elisha, Samuel choosing David, Jonah called by God, etc. But thanks, be to Jesus that now all of us are called to serve.

1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

v.20-21 Our choice: Following God is a conscious choice that we need to make. Elisha chose to follow God through Elijah. He left his parents and all he held dear and all that represented him (slaughtered his oxen and burned his plow). He had to this before he could follow Elijah and become his servant. Just like Elisha we too have oxen and plows in our own lives that we may need to give up in response to God's call. I pray that God opens our eyes that we may see them and gives us the strength to do what is needed in response to His call.

When Jesus called his apostles, they too had to make a choice. They had to choose between their old life (fishermen, tax collectors, doctors,etc.) or choose to follow Jesus.

As Christians, when we chose to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were saved. This choice did not make us perfect but made us forgiven / justified and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. It opened us to two things 1) Saving grace 2) Sanctifying grace. Salvation is one time. Sanctification is a process that goes on while we are still here on earth being perfected by God while living out our earthly lives.

Responding to God's call to follow and to serve (honoring God) is a moment by moment choice to honor Him and glorify Him in everything we think, say and do. Responding to this call not only transforms us and draws us closer to Him, but also helps others to see His power and draw them to Him.

My prayer is that beginning today we all become sensitive to His call in every choice we make.