Wednesday Reflection, June 10, 2020

God Provides

King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, were two of the most nefarious characters in biblical history. 1 Kings 17 introduces us to what could be described as a very significant standoff between the King and the prophet Elijah.

Elijah straight up tells the king that there would be no rain for two years unless he, the Lord’s servant received instructions from God and spoke it.

In Jamaica we could say, based on the declaration Elijah made, that “him have big chat” and why wouldn’t he? He represented the Most High, the voice of final authority.

So he delivers the message to the king and then receives instructions to hide himself by the brook of Cherith. Naturally, Elijah could not have delivered the Lord’s message to Ahab and remain in place for his life was in danger.

As he hides by the brook, the Bible tells us that the Lord commanded Ravens to deliver his morning and evening meals. Because of the drought, the brook eventually went dry and so it was time for the prophet to leave that particular hiding place.

So the Lord then instructed him to go to Zarephath where He has already made provisions for him through a widow. Elijah gets to the gate, finds the woman gathering sticks. He asks for water and while she goes to fetch that he appeals to her to bring him as small piece of bread.

She turned around and informed him that all she had was a handful of meal and a little oil. Her plan was to prepare a meal for herself and her son, they would eat it and then die. Since that was all she had left.

In this story, God’s Providence is evident throughout. The themes of humility, honesty and obedience are highlighted. The prophet tells the dear widow not to be afraid but to do as she intended but first make him a cake and then make another for herself and her son for the Lord said, the oil and meal would not run out until He sent rain.

My friends, what an incredibly amazing God we serve! Every believer has accounts of high and low points; Elijah had just completed an important task for the Lord but instead of a celebration he had to go into hiding but notice how the Lord was with him all the way.

In today’s watchword, 1 Kings 17:16 says, ” and the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

There may be days when it would appear the oil and meal are running out; likewise your faith, patience and whatever else you may think you’ve been holding in reserve. Dear friend, trust the Lord to grant you endurance and to keep you faithful through the power of humility and obedience as you trust Him to provide.

Until next week, I leave you with the words of Victoria Osteen, “may you open your heart and invite God into every circumstance because when God enters the scene, miracles happen.”

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Tuesday Reflection – June 09, 2020
A Little Respect Goes a Long Way

The eighth commandment is simply four words. You shall not steal. Ex 20: 15. This is today’s watchword. It is short and to the point, leaving no room for argument as to what is covered or what is included. According to the Oxford Dictionary, stealing is to ‘take without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.’ Simply put, to not steal is to leave other people’s things alone. There is much more to this commandment, however.
 
I have always broken down the commandments into two sections. The first three deal with our relationship with God, while the other seven deal with our relationship with each other. The command to not steal is related to the other six in this group. To not honor one’s parents, to take someone’s life, wife or husband, to disrupt someone’s life by lying on them, or to covet something that is not yours are all ways in which we can steal, that is, take from someone what was never ours to take. To take someone else’s idea and use it like it’s yours, to take someone’s reputation, trust, dignity, to take someone’s time and intellect, are all ways in which we can steal. The command to not steal is therefore a call to show respect to others. 
 
Note that in its earliest understanding among the Jews, this commandment was interpreted as a command against stealing other human beings. It therefore prohibited kidnapping and thus stood against a system in which people were kidnapped from their homeland and sold into slavery. It also speaks against the human trafficking which continues to plague the world today. In fact, in Ex 21: 16 the penalty for such action was death. “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.’ If we respected each other as we ought to, then a lot of the things that plague our society today would not be happening. If we respected each other as we are commanded to, then George Floyd would not have died under the knee of a police officer. If we respected each other then Noel Chambers would have been treated with human dignity and would not have died after spending forty years in a Jamaican prison at the Governor General’s pleasure, without a trial and without dignified human and medical treatment. If we respected each other Maurice Gordon would not have been killed by a police officer even after it was clear that he was unarmed and not in violation of any laws. Clyde Kilough was so correct when he said ‘the most irreplaceable things are rarely physical’. If we respected each other this would truly be a wonderful world for a little respect goes a long way.  
 
There is hope however. Hope in this very commandment ‘thou shall not steal’. Paul in Ephesians 4: 28, speaking of living as Godly people, reflecting the new life we find in Christ Jesus, commands us: Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. The opposite of stealing is working to give. Those who know Christ should be transformed from being takers to being givers. We give by sharing, by caring and generally by respecting each other. When Jesus met Zacchaeus in the gospels and went to his house, Zacchaeus was confronted by who he had been up to that point, and immediately vowed to change. “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Luke 19: 8 – 9. I want to believe that the respect with which Jesus treated Zacchaeus even while so many were disrespecting him, contributed to his conversion. Rather than also steal what little reputation and respect he had left, Jesus gave to him by calling him by name, by calling him closer and by fellowshipping with him in his house. What a difference it would make in this world if we who are called by Jesus’ name begin to treat everyone with such dignity and respect. It would change the entire outlook of humanity. Indeed, a little respect goes a long way.  Amen. 

Bevon White