2 Kings 2:9-14
STEP ASIDE GRACEFULLY

In the summer of 1993 the Atlanta Braves baseball team traded some of their minor league players for the All-Star first baseman of the San Diego Padres, Fred McGriff. He brought the Braves the firepower they needed to make a serious run for the pennant.

But what about the man McGriff replaced? Sid Bream, a believer in Christ, was the Braves regular first baseman. He had helped Atlanta get to the World Series in 1992, but with McGriff coming he was headed for the bench. "There's no doubt something like this hurts your pride and your ego," said Bream. "But the one thing I'm counting on is that there's something better ahead."

When we've done a job well for many years, it can be difficult to step aside for someone younger or better qualified. Elijah was in that kind of situation. His ministry was coming to an end. His attitude, however, revealed his trust in God. He said to Elisha, his successor, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" (2 Kings 2:9)

Maybe the time has come for you to give up a position you've held for a long while. It could be at work or even in a ministry at church. Ask God for the grace to accept His plan for you. And then step aside gracefully. --D C Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 3:1-12
Medal Of Honor

Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. —2 Kings 3:11

For many years I wondered what Jehoram's servant meant when he said that Elisha "poured water on the hands of Elijah" (2 Ki. 3:11). I have learned that it was a way of saying that Elisha had been Elijah's servant. Before Elisha became God's spokesman, he had humbly served in Elijah's shadow.

In the Lord's work, rank or position is not nearly as important as being willing to serve wherever He places you, even if it's "pouring water."

I was reminded of this while viewing some slides of the Philippines. A park in Manila commemorates the men and women of the US Armed Forces who gave their lives there during World War II. Their names are inscribed on marble pillars. Those who won the Congressional Medal of Honor have a star by their names.

One entry is unusual. These words are engraved by the star: "Walter Peterson, Chief Water Bearer." I don't know who he was or what his duties were, but he served the troops and did his duty well enough to receive our country's highest award.

What about your job in the Lord's service? Does it seem insignificant, with no public attention? No matter. Do it well. Someday the Lord Himself will award you His "Medal of Honor." —D C Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 6:1-7
The Little Things Too

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:19

Pastor Harold Springstead was driving along, on his way to preach at a little country church, when he felt a sudden vibration. A tire had gone flat. As the 78-year-old pastor maneuvered his car to a stop, a trucker pulled up behind him. A young man jumped out, assessed the situation, and cheerfully changed the tire. Pastor Springstead got to the service in plenty of time, and it was not until later that he realized his car didn't even have a jack!

It was a minor problem. He was a retired faithful servant of God. It was a tiny congregation. We might think God would be too busy with larger and more important needs than to be concerned about a flat tire. But His promise to provide for the needs of His people covers little things as well as big ones.

The same God who helped Elisha retrieve the borrowed ax head (2 Ki. 6:5-7), who supplied food for a faithful widow (1 Ki 17:8-16), and who provided wine at a small-town wedding (Jn 2:1-10) meets our needs as well.

Think back over the past few days. Has the Lord taken care of some minor needs in your life? Has He solved some nagging problem? Thank Him! As today unfolds, remember that He provides the little things too. --D C Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 6:8-17
WHY AM I AFRAID?

Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. --2 Kings 6:16

Columnist George Cantor told how he dealt with a childhood fear. Almost every night he was awakened by something, and he imagined scary creatures lurking outside his room. Often he would be too scared to go back to sleep. Sometimes he would go and lie down by his parents' bedroom door, figuring that as long as he was near them, nothing would hurt him.

That child's need for some physical evidence of his parents' presence reminds me of the young servant of Elisha who woke up early one morning and found that the Syrian army had surrounded
the city. Alarmed and afraid, he cried out to Elisha, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" (2 Kings 6:15). After Elisha prayed, the Lord opened the young servant's eyes. What he saw must have filled him with awe and wonder. The Bible says that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).

We too at times long for God to give us some kind of reassurance that He is near, and sometimes He does. But that's the exception. He wants us to learn to trust His promise that He is with us. No matter how frightening the situation, God's people always have more on their side than the enemy has on his. -  M R De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 6:8-23
We Are Not Alone

Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. --2 Kings 6:16

In the New York City subway, two youths robbed a well-dressed man who appeared to be asleep in his seat. Suddenly the whole car came alive! The victim turned out to be a decoy, and the passengers who jumped up from their seats were police officers. With lightning speed they converged on the young pair and made the arrest. These officers were "unseen" at first, but they provided ample security for riders on that subway car.

We get a similar picture of protection in 2 Kings 6. In a manner more dramatic than what happened on that subway, Elisha's servant saw why his master could be so confident in the face of what seemed to be impending disaster. We read that when "the Lord opened the eyes of the young man," he saw an amazing sight (v.17). God had arrayed an invisible army "of horses and chariots of fire" all around Elisha, ready to protect the Israelites from the Syrian army.

As God's children, we can trust Him to defend us as we do His will. Even when the battle seems too great and it appears that we face defeat, we must still trust the Lord. We can be encouraged by remembering Elisha's message to his servant: "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (v.16). We are not alone! --M R De Haan II  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 7:1-16
Good News Is For Sharing

We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. --2 Kings 7:9

Four starving lepers, in quarantine outside Samaria, decided to surrender to the enemy soldiers who were besieging the city (2 Kings 7:3-4). But they found the Syrian camp empty of men and full of provisions, evidence of a terror-stricken flight. They ate to their fill and stashed away gold, silver, and clothing. But then feelings of guilt mixed with fear of punishment moved them to share the good news with the hungry people in Samaria.

Sharing helpful and encouraging information is something in which we usually find delight. We enjoy telling a person who is ill about a doctor who successfully treated us for the same ailment. We eagerly let others know about a mechanic we have found who is skilled and honest. Many of us, though, are less eager to share the best news in all the world with others--that Christ can satisfy their spiritual hunger. But Jesus commanded us to do so (Mt. 28:19; Acts 1:8), and He will hold us accountable for our obedience to Him when we stand before Him (2 Cor. 5:10).

Although your first motivation to tell the good news may be one of obligation, you'll soon discover the joy of sharing the gospel out of a heart of love. --H V Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 7:3-9
The Ethics Of Good News

"We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent." 2 Kings 7:9

If a scientist discovered the cure for cancer, we would expect the discovery to be shared with the world. Basic ethics requires that good news not be kept secret.

When the king of Syria laid siege to the city of Samaria, the food supply was cut off. Four men with leprosy, deciding it would be preferable to die at the hands of the Syrians than to starve, went to surrender to the enemy. But when they came to the camp, they found it deserted. The army had fled in the night.

Food lay everywhere. The four men stuffed themselves, and they were tempted to remain silent about the good news. But then the memory of Samaria with its famished inhabitants came back to them. "We are not doing right," they told each other (2 Kings 7:9). So they became evangelists—bearers of good news. Ultimately, evangelism comes down to this: one starving person telling another starving person where to find food.

You and I have discovered that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. It is a breakdown of basic integrity to keep that truth to ourselves. If we have found the cure for a guilty conscience, if we have found the food of life, we are obligated to share it with others. —Haddon Robinson  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 18:3-4
When Good Turns Bad

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord,... and broke in pieces the bronze serpent. --2 Kings 18:3-4

People often find ways to turn something good into something bad. It even happens in churches. Perhaps a person at first lives by God's teachings but then lets power or fear change him into a source of trouble. Or maybe a church program that began with the right intentions gets sidetracked by the jealousy or anger or lack of wisdom of the people running the program. When these things happen, it takes someone with a heart for God, the courage of convictions, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to confront the problem.

The people of Judah found out how true that was. In their case, the good-thing-turned-bad was the bronze serpent that Moses had fashioned years earlier to help the people during the Exodus. Back then, the serpent had represented the healing power of God, which was given to those who looked upon it (Nu 21:5-9).

But by Hezekiah's time, the bronze figure had become an object of worship. It took courage, wisdom, and a clear understanding of God's power for him to order the serpent destroyed and to restore proper worship (2 Kings 18:4).

When something good turns bad, it takes a spiritually strong person to tackle the problem. With God's help, are you willing to be that person? --J D Brannon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

2 Kings 19:1-19
Facing Danger With Prayer

O Lord our God, I pray, save us . . . that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God. —2 Kings 19:19

Trouble lay ahead for King Hezekiah of Judah. He had just received a menacing letter from Assyria's King Sennacherib. This marauding monarch had conquered many cities, and Jerusalem was next on his list. In his letter, Sennacherib mocked the God of Israel and threatened to destroy the holy city.

We read in 2 Kings 19 that Hezekiah went immediately up to the temple and spread the letter before the Lord. He acknowledged Him as the One who created all things (2 Kings 19:15). He told Him that Sennacherib had reproached the living God (v.16). Finally, He pleaded with God to deliver Judah so that all the nations of the world would know that He alone is God (2 Kings 19:19). Hezekiah's actions said, in effect, "Look, God! Read this! I need your help. Your honor is at stake!"

What an example of faith in a real God who is present and aware of our needs! Like Hezekiah, we at times face imminent danger from someone who wants to harm us. Or it may be some other kind of menacing situation. No matter what we ultimately do, our first response should be to tell God of the danger and praise Him for His greatness. Then we can trust Him for the kind of help that brings Him glory.

Facing danger? God honors Hezekiah-style prayers. —J D Brannon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)