Promoting His Holiness

Scripture:
“Now Elijah, the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’” — I Kings 17:1

Observation:
Elijah pops on the scene and in his first act he goes up against King Ahab and tells him the Lord is sending a drought that will last until I say otherwise. James 5:17 says that Elijah actually prayed fervently for no rain and it didn’t rain. I see other accounts of men of God speaking out against leadership of that day and putting their lives on the line because of it. Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and obviously Jesus are just a few examples.

I Peter 2 speaks to submitting to authority and how, “for the Lord’s sake be subject to every human institution.” Peter goes on to say in v. 18, “Servants be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” So what are we to do – submit to authority, regardless of good or evil; or take a stand like the men above? 

Application:
The men above took a stand when the authority abandoned God and his laws. They stood with the confidence of God and boldly proclaimed his holiness. Elijah even got in the face of King Ahab and accused him of being the troubler of Israel because he abandoned the commandments. He goes as far as to put his God (Yahweh) up against King Ahab’s (Baal). 

Stories like this cause me to question my boldness and confidence in God. Elijah knew the same God I do and had faith in him to stop the rain and send fire. He was even willing to risk his life to promote God’s holiness. Am I willing to put God’s holiness ahead of my own life? I’ve seen his holiness through creation, miracles, birth, changed lives, Jesus; but am I willing to promote it above all that, above everything.

Prayer:
God help my life to be about pointing to, promoting and praising your holiness.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus