DAY 19: BURNING THE BRIDGES

THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY
(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

TOPIC: BURNING THE BRIDGES
DATE: 19 SEPTEMBER, 2019
BIBLE READING: 1 KINGS 19:19-21
MEDITATION/MEMORY VERSE: LUKE 9:23 (AMP)
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

To ‘burn the bridges,’ means to cut off every form of connection or relationship with someone or something. That is, it is a sign of saying, ‘NO GOING BACK,’ ‘NO ALTERNATIVE PLAN.’
When Elijah casted his mantle upon Elisha, the son of Shaphat, the prophetic power came upon him. By that single act, Elijah gave him a new identity and set him apart for a prophetic mission. Earlier in verse 16 from 1st Kings 19, God had told to anoint Elisha as a prophet that would succeed him.
Elisha ran after Elijah and told him that he needed to first of all, wish his parents goodbye, before responding to the prophetic calling. And the response Elijah gave is similar to Jesus’ response in Luke 9:61 and 62.
Luke 9:62
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
So Elisha went back to burn his ploughs, as a sign of no going back to farming.
Just as Jesus told Peter and his brother, Andrew to follow him. The Bible says, ‘they immediately left their nets and followed Him’ (Matt. 4:20). And Peter, in Luke 18:28, said to Jesus, ‘…we have left all and followed you.’
From our yesterday’s devotionals, we see that every Christian has a two-fold calling. Now, the question is what price (or cost) are we paying now as Disciples of Christ to follow and to respond to the call? Are there still some idols we need to lay down to follow the Master whole-heartedly?
God is looking for women like Ruth who will leave all to serve the God of Naomi (Ruth 1:15-18). God needs women in this end-time like prophetess Deborah who will stand as a judge for His people (Judges 4). God is raising men for war like Joshua and Gideon in these last days. And what sacrifices are we paying to be used by God in His kingdom in these last days?

ACTION POINT: NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, I CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THE MASTER. I CHOOSE TO LEAVE ALL BEHIND TO FOLLOW HIM TO THE VERY END.
PRAYER POINT: GOD HELP ME TO BURN THE BRIDGES, AND PAY THE PRICE TO BE USED BY YOU, EVEN IN THESE LAST DAYS.
PERSONAL READING: LUKE 9:57-62