Christ Church Daily Devotion March 13 2024

In today's Daily Devotion, the story from 1 Kings chapter 17 tells us about Elijah, a prophet during a severe drought. God instructed Elijah to go to Zarephath, where a widow would provide him with food. The widow, who had very little food left, was hesitant to share, but Elijah assured her that God would provide. The widow obediently shared her food, and miraculously, her flour and oil never ran out. This story emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's provision. It reminds us that even when we have little, if we are faithful and obedient, God can provide abundantly. The story also connects with the idea that acts of kindness can make a difference in the lives of others. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for March 13, 2024. Today we will be reading from 1 Kings chapter 17, verses 8 through 16. Then the word of the Lord came to him, Go at once to Zarephath, in the region of Siddam, and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food. So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, Would you bring me a little water in a jar, so I may have a drink? As she was going to get it, he called, And bring me, please, a piece of bread. As surely as the Lord your God lives, she replied, I don't have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar, and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. Eliza said to her, Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. First, make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have, and bring it to me. And then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, The jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry, until the day of the Lord sends rain on the land. She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up, and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. Elijah was God's prophet during the days of King Ahab. There was a severe drought in the land. This prophet's story throughout this chapter proclaims God's provisions for sustaining life at every turn. Through the ravens in the waters of the Wadi Cherith, through a Sidonian woman, widow, and through God's resuscitation of the widow's son, the threads which tie these stories together are life, is made possible by the Lord alone, and the importance of the word, meaning the word of the Lord as spoken through the prophet. In today's verses, Elijah is given instructions by the Lord to go to the city of Zarephath. Just as the Lord ordained the ravens to feed Elijah in the previous verses, now the Lord has ordained a widow to feed him. This is somewhat confusing for Elijah, and particularly confusing for the widow. Being a widow, and now with the drought, she has almost lost everything. Now here is the prophet asking her to share with him part of the very little food that she has. If anyone had good reasons for not sharing, she did. As she begins to explain why she can't share, she speaks the same words as Elijah has spoken at the beginning of the chapter, as the Lord your God lives. Elijah assures her with the words of the Lord, the jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land. And the Lord's words here were trustworthy and true. This widow was faithful and obedient with the little she had, and God provided all she needed. Years ago, a very small congregation made a commitment to the mustard tree ministry to serve over a hundred people in downtown Chattanooga on every month's third Thursday. It was a commitment of time, resources, and heart. Often on those third Thursdays, we would wonder if there would be enough food to offer all who attended the dinner, but every single time, God provided in miraculous ways, more than enough. Your personal worship option today is the third chapter of Hal Donaldson's book, Your Next 24 Hours, is titled, Be Their Miracle. The focus of the book is that one day of kindness can change everything. He writes in the third chapter, when you and others share that you have, many receive what they don't have. What can we share today that together with others can make a difference for many others?