A Man of God

2 Kings 1:1-12 (NRSV)

By John Grimm

What could we do if we had the Spirit of the Lord upon us like Elijah did?

Three groups of fifty men, along with their captains, came to Elijah.  Each time these groups approached Elijah, he said to them: “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.”  Each time he said these words, fire came down from heaven.

Maybe we are like the captains and their groups of fifty men.  We follow orders from the rulers.  Following orders is not all that we can do in our lives.  Instead of seeking other gods, we can seek the God of Israel, the Father of Jesus, the Giver of the Holy Spirit. 

Elijah listened to the messenger of God.  That is what a man of God does.  Can we have men and women of God today who listen to the messengers of God?  God will show that we are men and women of God so that the world around us knows whose we are.

Lord God, you have given us your Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we are men and women of God.  However, we do not think that we are like Elijah, who had your Spirit upon him.  Work in us, please, so that we are known in our communities to be men and women of God.  We ask for this assurance through the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.