DEVOTIONAL

In 1 Kings 19 we find Elijah running for his life, literally, because of the "contest" that took place on Mount Carmel between him and the prophets of Baal. The Lord had shown his power and superiority over the false god Baal, and in response, Elijah had all the prophets of Baal "slaughtered". This of course, greatly upset Queen Jezebel and she swore that she would "slaughter" Elijah because of what he did. So this caused Elijah to run and hide out and he began feeling very depressed even to the point of asking to die. More than likely, he probably felt all alone, like he was the only follower of God left and that all had turned away. Thankfully, God brought him to Mt. Horeb, the same mountain that Moses received the 10 Commandments, (also known as Mt. Sinai) and gave him a word of encouragement by saying, "[y]et I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18). In other words, God was telling Elijah that he wasn't the only one left who was a true follower of God. There were still others that were faithful servants.

As a Christian in today's society, it is too easy to feel that you are the only one left and that everyone has turned away from the things of God and desires rather to do their own thing. Especially with reports about how Christianity has plummeted 10% in the last decade. However, we must remember that God's word to Elijah still holds true to us today in some respects. We have encouragement that we are not the only ones left, but that God has chosen His people and that not even Satan can pluck them out of His hand. And He'll remind of us of this fact whenever you see someone standing up for their beliefs in the news or if you meet someone in the grocery store who is a christian or even maybe as little as a person carrying a bible down the street.

 

In today's society as a Christian, it is too easy to feel that you are the only one left and that everyone has turned away from the things of God and desires rather to do their own thing. Especially with reports about how Christianity has plummeted 10% in the last decade. However, we must remember that God's word to Elijah still holds true to us today in some respects. We have encouragement that we are not the only ones left, but that God has chosen his people and that not even Satan can pluck them out of His hand. And He'll remind of us of this fact whenever you see someone standing up for their beliefs in the news or if you meet someone in the grocery store who is a christian or even maybe as little as a person carrying a bible down the street.

Finally, this brings to my remembrance of a story that Matt Redman told of how he was playing a concert in Norway one night and for some reason he kept thinking of that Michael Jackson song "You are not alone", so he went ahead and played it and afterward was having regrets about playing the song. However, his choice was confirmed when after the concert a lady walked up to him and said that she felt so alone before the concert and was spoken to by that song. This is just one tiny of example of how God shows us that we are not alone. (Hebrews 13:5)