Friday, January 30, 2009
1 Kings 19:4 "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
THE LUTHERAN ADVANTAGE: THE MEANS OF GRACE MEANS GOD GIVES THE INCREASE
After seven years of famine; after the failure of the prophets of Baal; after the fire came down and consumed the altar, the sacrifice, the water, and the dust; after the people cried out with one voice, "The Lord He alone is God,"; after the prophets of Baal were killed, every single one; after Elijah outran a rain storm and a chariot; after the Lord poured forth his blessing in the form of rain that had been absent seven years; after all of this, Elijah ran for his life and lamented, "I alone am left."
How is it possible that days after the people of Israel proclaimed "the Lord He alone is God," Elijah is found feeling sorry for himself and complaining that he is no better than his fathers? He was no doubt hoping for better results from his ministry as a whole. Perhaps he even thought that more would turn to the Lord after the amazing display of almighty power at the altar on Carmel.
But God brings people to faith in His own way and at His own time. Elijah's work was simply to call Israel to repentance and to share the good news of God's mercy. If his hearers believed and were saved, that would be by God's power, not his.
The same is true in our preaching and witnessing. Lest we become discouraged like Elijah, let us remember that the thing which is finally going to bring others to Christ is the Holy Spirit working through both the word of forgiveness and through the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), which demonstrate and share that forgiveness in a visible way. We are just the handlers of these means of grace. God gives the increase.
