August 8-9

“Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son” - (1 Kings 17:13)

'Walking with God is the most exciting and rewarding of all experiences on earth. I should add, it is also the most difficult....God takes us through struggles and difficulties so that we might become increasingly more committed to Him.'  These words written by Charles Swindoll highlight our need to have unquestioning trust in God. But, how do we trust when we are in a seemingly impossible situation?

Elijah, sitting beside the dried-up brook Cherith faced the same dilemma. Escaping for his life from Ahab, should he stay safe at the secluded brook, or do as God was telling him, “take a hundred mile hike, on foot, across the wilderness to Zarephath?” It was a risk. If he left the shelter of the brook and ventured into the open, he could easily be tracked by Ahab – he was a wanted man. And as though he hadn't been humbled enough, God told him he would meet a widow in Zarephath who would provide for him. A widow provide for him! - surely it should be the other way round? Trusting in his God to know best, Elijah set off on his formidable desert journey.

The story in 1 Kings is well-known to most of us....how on entering Zarephath, by God's appointment, he met the widow collecting sticks, about to light a fire and cook a last meal for herself and her son from her last remains of oil and flour. Then they would starve. What was Elijah's reaction? Re-read the above Scripture – how dare he respond that way – selfish or what! But stop, think. Throughout his life Elijah had walked with God and proved Him faithful. No-one can talk like that if they haven't walked like that. No-one can encourage someone to believe in the impossible if they haven't believed in the impossible themselves. If the flame of implicit trust is not alight in their lives, how can they light someone else's torch and give them courage?

“The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth” - (1 Kings 17:14). What a promise! What a reward! The widow was rewarded with two miracles. But even more wonderful in this story is God's faithfulness and willingness to fulfil His promises. Right now, God may be leading some of us through a wilderness situation that looks and feels impossible, to our very own Zarephath, and nothing makes sense. Let us just trust, and go, God leads. If He says “stay,” stay in peace, don't analyse it....God's promises often result from our obedience. Both Elijah and the widow did their part, and God did His.

'Since He took care of our greatest need at Calvary by giving us Christ, then you can be sure He will take care of everything else He considers important for us.' (Charles Swindoll 2012, “Perfect Peace.”).

Our song chosen by Bryn is “Fallen Leaves” by Primitive Quartet

     Housekeeping details for you

     The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.

     A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here