OUR DAILY BREAD : GIVING UP?

[cimi]

January 23
Saturday


GIVING UP?

READ:
1 Kings 19:11-18
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I alone am left and
they seek to take my
life. __1 Kings 19:10
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Have you ever felt like giving up? Elijah did. The Lord had just used him to show the nation of Israel that the Lord is God (1 Kings 18). Yet, the threats of Queen Jezebel so alarmed him that he ran to Beersheba, 100 miles south (19:3). Then he walked another 150 miles south tho Horeb, the mountain of God.

Twice God asked Elijah what he was doing there (vv.9,13). Both times he answered with identical words--"I alone am left; and they seek to take my life" (vv.10,14). He had become so preoccupied with his own fears that he had forgotten what God had done through him at Mount Carmel. Despite his great victory, Elijah plunged into the depths of discouragement. How easy it is for us to do the same.

God did not accept Elijah's notice that he was quitting. Instead, He commissioned his tired servant to handle three major tasks (vv.15-17). And by the way, Elijah was wrong when he said he was the only faithful one left. God had 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal (v.18).

Perhaps, like Elijah, you are despairing at the circumstances in your life. Let God speak to you (v.12). Instead of allowing you to quit, He will show you what you can do through His strength. __C. P. Hia
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````````````````Our strength and hope is in the Lord--``````````````
`````````````````We rest secure in His sure Word;`````````````````
```````````````And though we're tempted to despair```````````````
``````````We know we're kept within His care. __D. De Haan`````````
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When you're working for Jesus,
it's always too soon to quit.

************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Kings 19:11-18*************

11 Then He said, "Go out,
and stand on the mountain
before the LORD." And
behold, the LORD passed by,
and a great and strong wind
tore into the mountains and
broke the rocks in pieces
before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind;
and after the wind an
earthquake, but the LORD
was not in the earthquake;

12 and after the earthquake a
fire, but the LORD was not
in the fire; and after the fire
a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah
heard it, that he wrapped
his face in his mantle and
went out and stood in the
entrance of the cave.
Suddenly a voice came to
him, and said, "What are
you doing here, Elijah?"

14 And he said, "I have
been very zealous for the
LORD God of hosts; because
the children of Israel have
forsaken Your covenant,
torn down Your altars,and
killed Your prophets with
the sword. I alone am left;
and they seek to take my
life."

15 Then the LORD said to
him: "Go, return on your
way to the Wilderness of
Damascus; and when you
arrive, anoint Hazael as
king over Syria. 16 Also you
shall anoint Jehu the son of
Nimshi as king over Israel.
And Elisha the son of
Shaphat of Abel Meholah
you shall anoint as prophet
in your place. 17 It shall be
that whoever escapes the
sword or Hazael, Jehu will
kill; and whoever escapes
the sword of Jehu, Elisha
will kill. 18 Yet I have
reserved seven thousand in
Israel, all whose knees have
not bowed to Baal, and
every mouth that has not
kissed him."