September 12, 2024
Seek First the Kingdom of God -- Part 4
1 Kings 17:15
09/12/2024
15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and
he and her household ate for many days. (ESV)
Our Lord God keeps His promises, including the promise to
provide all we need to support this body and life. The prophet
Elijah, 850 years before Jesus said, ``Seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added
unto you,''[3] called the widow of Zarephath to act in faith.
``Bring me a morsel of bread,'' he asked the widow. Take the
last of your flour, the last of your oil, trust in God, and
provide for the prophet He has sent to proclaim His Word.
What an act of trust, what an example of faith was displayed
by the widow. Hungry, concerned that this prophet would consume
her last provisions, she nevertheless trusted in God more than
her own understanding. ``And she went and did as Elijah said.
And she and he and her household ate for many days.''
How do we understand this miracle? Can we expect that
people who have faith in the one true God will never face the
problems of life? Of course not. But they never face the
problems alone, for God is with them and has promised to care for
them. His great mercy endures forever.
As we fear, love, and trust in God above all things, we come
to know of His mercy and grace. Jesus told us to pray, ``give us
this day our daily bread,'' not because we need to beg for those
things we need, but to acknowledge that our heavenly Father
provides for us even before we ask. That prayer speaks of our
faith in God, and proclaims His loving kindness.
May our Lord grant that we trust in Him at all times and in
all His promises. Amen.
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3. Matthew 6:33