PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Jun
27

Half Way There

Jon Burgess

Scripture
16Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.17Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is theLord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”18Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times.19But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”
2 Kings 13:16-19
Observation

The outward action reveals the inward condition of the heart. Throughout 1 & 2 Kings we see the Kings described according to the spiritual state of their heart. Sadly, the leaders of God's people who were half-hearted far outweigh the kings who were whole-hearted in their pursuit of God's heart. That reality is seen here in King Jehoash's response to Elisha's prophetic act. It was God's heart to give a whole victory to a whole heart but they would only get half way there because the King was half-hearted in his response. Perhaps King Jehoash was overcome with grief that the prophet Elisha was dying? Maybe he was overwhelmed with the prospect of facing the Arameans alone? Whatever the case he wasn't paying attention when the prophet Elisha put his hand over the hand of the King signfying the prophetic act he was about to participate in. If I want a full victory I'd better be paying full attention with a whole heart at halftime!

Application

July 1st is the half way point for 2017. This is that great opportunity to stop and have an honest conversation with my Creator- "How am I doing so far Lord?" This halftime conversation will determine, much like King Jehoash, whether I have full or partial victory this year. This isn't about the New Years Resolutions (that most likely didn't last past February). This is about a move from success to significance. If I don't take the halftime seriously my vision ends up half-baked and my obedience half-hearted and I'll only get half way there! As I slow down I ask myself the questions Bob Buford suggests in his book "Halftime": Am I listening for the still, small voice? Is my work still the center of my life and identity? Do I have an eternal perspective as a prism through which I view my life? What is my truest purpose? My life work? My destiny? What does it really mean to “have it all”?”

Asking these questions brings me back to the questions God was asking me as the sun rose on the first day of 2017:

* If you truly believed I was coming back soon how would that change the way you spent your time?

* What if you believed in your heart that every need you came across I had already made provision for? How would that change the way you pray?

* What would happen in this city if each one reached one for Me? If every person who knew Me told someone about Me how would that change this city?

* What would happen if your heart broke the way Mine does for every person in this city? It's time to start walking with eyes wide open.

Prayer

These questions are my arrows and I'm hitting them hard against the ground. Forgive me Lord for allowing the pace of life to take my focus from that which matters most. I have these questions from New Years Day posted on my door, but I want them inscribed upon my heart. I'm half way there in this year and I want to go all the way with You. I hear Your heart in these questions and it challenges my heart to shake off its slumber and give it all I've got to reach as many as possible in this beautiful city You've called me to reach!


Devotions for June 27

2 Kings 13,14
2 Chronicles 25
2 Timothy 3

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