Christian Devotional – July 7, 2020

Double Portion – #4

Why did I name this series double portion? Because when we start studying the life of Elisha, we must first start by studying the life of Elijah. As Elijah was teaching and training and leading Elisha, he came to the point where it was time for Elijah’s ministry on Earth to be over. What Elisha asked for during that time changed the course of the rest of his ministry. Read it 2 Kings 2:7-12.

Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so. ” As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
2 Kings 2:7‭-‬12 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.2.7-12.NASB

Elisha asked for a double portion of the spirit that had been on Elijah. All the things that he had seen his master do, he wanted to be able to do twice as much. Elisha had seen the power of God moving through Elijah and he wanted to be able to have God move through him the same way and impact twice as many people as Elijah had the opportunity to impact.

And to be fair, Elijah’s life was no small matter. Elijah did great and amazing things through the power of God working in his life. What would we have asked for? If we were given that opportunity, would we have asked for the chance to impact even more lives? Would we have wanted to see God’s word spread twice as much? What would double portion look like in our lives? No matter where we are right now, God can always do more through us and wants to do more through us as we surrender our lives to him. Will we surrender and allow God to use us today?