August 22 Caution or Assurance?

August 22

Worry or Assurance?

1 Kings 18:9-12 "What have I done wrong," asked Obadiah, "that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' 12 I don't know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me." 

HERE Obadiah, a faithful man of God, had to make a decision when Elijah approached him. For one, as King Ahab's trusted administrator, Obadiah could turn from Elijah to tell Ahab of Elijah's whereabouts. That would put him in greater favor with Ahab.      Second, Obadiah could disobey Elijah and let Elijah go to Ahab. That might be the most comfortable choice. Third, he could obey Elijah's request even though he feared Ahab would kill him if Elijah went missing again. This is the most dangerous option, and it follows that this is the option that requires the most faith.

           It's complicated, isn't it? We have so many choices: Do what pleases others. Do what makes you comfortable. Or do what the Lord requires of you, even as it brings potential danger and certain conflict into your life. Sometimes our choices come together into an easy plan. But oftentimes, our choices create conflict. It's as if your heart, mind and soul are pulled in three different directions.

           A key to deciding, "Which way do I go?" is to assess, "Where is truth?" Obadiah is pulled between loyalty to the king, loyalty to his own well-being and loyalty to God's prophet. He will have an easier time deciding what to do when he finds assurance that Elijah speaks the truth. 

           There is no greater assurance than when we trust the truth. That's why we must know and believe what the Lord says. He calls us to follow him as he guides our steps day-by-day. We can think of confessing our truth in God's words as we sing the hymn "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine...this is my story this is my son, praising my Savior all the daylong". We may also how knowing the truth of our Savior leads us to sing the praise song "Step by step you lead me, and I will follow you all of my days." These are words confessing we believe God's words are real truth for our real life.

           As Obadiah lived in pagan-influenced Israel, he stood above the culture and lived in the assurance of the truth in the Kingdom of God. And thus, he acted faithfully.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your blessed assurance, that we can follow you step-by-step each day. In Jesus' name, amen.