Elijah was "awesome." His specialty was bringing down fire from heaven (Sir 48:3). He began the process by which the wicked kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel was destroyed (see Sir 48:6; 1 Kgs 19:15ff). The mighty Elijah appropriately left this earth by being "enveloped in the whirlwind" (Sir 48:12).
We may think that Elijah is "out of our league." Probably most of us are not often described as "awesome." However, the Lord describes Elijah as "only a man" like the rest of us (Jas 5:17). In fact, we who are in Christ Jesus are not only like Elijah but greater (Mt 11:11, 14). Moreover, we who believe in Jesus are not only greater than Elijah, but we can do greater works than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12). We who live for Jesus are awesome, chosen, holy, royal, priestly, beloved children of God (see 1 Pt 2:9; 1 Jn 3:1), who even share in God's divine nature (2 Pt 1:4).
Know yourself; be yourself; be new creations in Jesus (Gal 6:15).
| PRAYER: | Father, "what is man that You should be mindful of him?" (Ps 8:5) |
| PROMISE: | "Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us." –Mt 6:11-12 |
| PRAISE: | Ron witnessed about Jesus in his job interview. The interviewer accepted Jesus and hired Ron. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College