Day 1: Courage to Speak with Your Life
Theme: Courage is not only heard in what we say; it is seen in the life we live.
As we begin this week’s focus on courage, 1 Kings 19:14–21 introduces Elisha, the man God appoints to succeed Elijah as Israel’s next spiritual leader. God tells Elijah to appoint Elisha as prophet, and prophets spoke God’s message to the people. We often think of prophets as people who predicted the future. While they sometimes did foretell judgment, restoration, and the coming Messiah, most of their work was to call people back to God and confront the injustices of their day.
The names Elijah and Elisha sound very similar in English, which makes them easy to confuse. But in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, each name carried a powerful and distinct message for the Israelites. In their day, a name mattered. Parents did not simply choose something that sounded nice; a name said something meaningful about the person, the family, or the times.
Elijah’s name means “my God is Yahweh,” pointing to the one true God. Elisha’s name means “my God is salvation,” pointing to what the one true God provides. Together, even their names preached a message: when you follow the one true God, you find salvation, because that is the kind of God He is.
As we look at Elisha’s life this week, we begin to see what it takes to be a prophet: courage. Courage to speak to the people around you. Sometimes that speech comes through words, but often it comes through the way you live. Your name may not carry a message from God, but your life speaks volumes to the people watching you. What does your life say to those around you? Does it say compromise? Does it say you have to go along to get along? Does it say, “I want to fit in, so I’ll live like everyone else”? How might God begin to use your life to speak to the people you know?
As we begin this week’s focus on courage, 1 Kings 19:14–21 introduces Elisha, the man God appoints to succeed Elijah as Israel’s next spiritual leader. God tells Elijah to appoint Elisha as prophet, and prophets spoke God’s message to the people. We often think of prophets as people who predicted the future. While they sometimes did foretell judgment, restoration, and the coming Messiah, most of their work was to call people back to God and confront the injustices of their day.
The names Elijah and Elisha sound very similar in English, which makes them easy to confuse. But in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, each name carried a powerful and distinct message for the Israelites. In their day, a name mattered. Parents did not simply choose something that sounded nice; a name said something meaningful about the person, the family, or the times.
Elijah’s name means “my God is Yahweh,” pointing to the one true God. Elisha’s name means “my God is salvation,” pointing to what the one true God provides. Together, even their names preached a message: when you follow the one true God, you find salvation, because that is the kind of God He is.
As we look at Elisha’s life this week, we begin to see what it takes to be a prophet: courage. Courage to speak to the people around you. Sometimes that speech comes through words, but often it comes through the way you live. Your name may not carry a message from God, but your life speaks volumes to the people watching you. What does your life say to those around you? Does it say compromise? Does it say you have to go along to get along? Does it say, “I want to fit in, so I’ll live like everyone else”? How might God begin to use your life to speak to the people you know?
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to let my life speak clearly for You. Help me follow You with visible obedience, steady faith, and conviction that does not bend simply to fit in. May the people around me see, not just hear, that You are the one true God and the source of salvation.
Lord, give me the courage to let my life speak clearly for You. Help me follow You with visible obedience, steady faith, and conviction that does not bend simply to fit in. May the people around me see, not just hear, that You are the one true God and the source of salvation.
1 Kings 19:14–18 (NIV) 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
1 Kings 19:19–21 (NIV) 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
1 Kings 19:19–21 (NIV) 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
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