Thursday, February 12, 2015

As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you

2 KINGS 2:1-12
Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 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. 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.” 
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, ”As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

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.
Lord,
thank you for the mentors in my life
for the men and women 
who encourage, pray with, challenge, push, and celebrate life with me,
really they are not only mentors, 
but great friends.

Elijah was an important mentor 
and friend to Elisha.
Apparently Elisha knew all too well
his mentor would soon be taken from him.
Repeatedly he tenaciously stood by to learn from his mentor,
"I will not leave you!" he swore
until the day that Elijah was taken up in the fiery whirlwind. 

I remember standing beside two of my mentors 
in the emergency room as the eldest took his last breath.
A prince of a man, a gifted pastor, 
one who prayed with me early in my ministry.
I too prayed, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit."

Thank you, 
Lord Jesus,
for my mentors.
When it is my turn to mentor others,
help me give not only wisdom shared,
but my very spirit,
just as others have given to me.
Amen.

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