November 10 Behold God

2 Kings 6:14-17 So Syria's king sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

THE Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  The English Standard Version labels this section of Romans as "God's Everlasting Love."

    About 800 years before Paul wrote those words, the Prophet Elisha received the evidence of this grand view of God's love. Though Elisha's life is threatened, the heavenly army surrounds him. The Everlasting God had come to care for his faithful servant. God's army overcomes. God wins the battle, and he wins the war against evil.

    There is much publicity in the Christian church today about the ways the culture is opposing the church. We talk about diminishing attendance in our churches. We know the generation of the 20-30 year olds are fewer in church than we have experienced in this country's history. We feel as if the King of Evil has sent his army to surround and capture Christ's church. As Elisha's servant, we don't know what to do. Our personal walk is much the same. We think too much of the challenges.

    In our church and in our personal lives, let us open our eyes to see God's chariots of fire, the Holy Spirit's power to deliver us from evil. Call on the Lord to faithfully believe Scripture's message, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." & "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Remember, too, Jesus said to his disciples (that includes you today.) Matthew 28:20(b) "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

    "Behold" means to see. Elisha saw God's army around him. Do you?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, open our eyes that we may behold the Almighty God t o save us, to protect us, and to draw us home to you. In Jesus' name, amen.