Literature Ministries International


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July 12, 2024

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I Know Thou Art a Man of God

"Then the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." 1 Kings 17:24

We would be amazed at the response people have when they look at our lives. We go to extremes sometimes to make sure we look just right, say the right things, or go to the right places. Then we wonder what people think in response to our efforts. Other times, we simply go about our regular routines in life and are unconscious of others. Our minds are occupied with our activities, and we somehow blot out the self-consciousness that is sensitive to others.

What do people see when they look at you? Have you ever considered what kind of impact you make on others? We ask ourselves, "I wonder what kind of impression I made on so-and-so." But under the facade of our often-superficial shell, what is it within us that causes us to be and act as we do?

In this account of Elijah, we read an interesting comment by the widow who lived in Zarephath. She said, "Now I know that you are a man of God." What convinced her that Elijah was a man of God? She was exceedingly thankful that, through Elijah, her son was raised from the dead. Her son fell sick and finally there was no breath left in him. After Elijah "cried unto the Lord, the Lord heard him, and the soul of the child came into him again and he revived."

There was a manifestation of God's power through Elijah, and the child was restored. But what did the woman see in Elijah that caused her to say, "Now I know you are a man of God." She saw in Elijah...a man whose heart was wholly God's. One who was in such communion with the Lord, that even the death of her son was not an obstacle he could not surmount. There was no doubt on her part that Elijah was a living expression of God. "The word of the Lord from your mouth is truth." He did not have to conjure up any unusual action or display of himself; he simply did what was natural as "a man of God." He sought the Lord, who was life itself. He was as he appeared, and he responded in a way that was natural to him. But what was natural? Ah, this is the secret...His relationship to God! His response was natural, because he had a "supernatural" experience with the Lord that transformed his life. This was not his doing. Elijah responded to God's drawing him to Himself. The woman saw more than the miracle; she saw THE LORD IN THE MAN!

The miracle was simply the result of the "life" within Elijah that was manifested on this occasion. Someone said, "Be naturally spiritual and spiritually natural." That simply means, "Because of my relationship with the Lord, it is only natural for me to be spiritual. Therefore, my words and walk are the outliving of His life within me, and the way I conduct myself is not anything superficial, but spiritually natural." May people be convinced that we belong to God, by what they see within our lives that manifests itself in every aspect of our walk, our words. and in the way we live! Our walk speaks much louder than our words. Paul said, "Walk worthy unto all."

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-07-12


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