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 good-by," 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 attendant.
A separated heart is a heart separated from the cares of this world. It is separated from the things that keep us from God's priority for us. A separated life is a sacrificial life.
Elisha left the oxen, left parents, left his servants, left his inheritance, and separated himself to God because that was God's call for him. What is left can be good things, but not what God wants for us now.
Elisha took drastic steps as a son of a rich farmer. He took his oxen and slaughtered them for food for others. He burned his plow. He was a good son, a hard worker, a good employer, and faithful to the vocation of his family, but when called to a different service the temptations of staying were burned and left behind.
Elijah and Elisha were very different. Elijah was the rugged individualist, ascetic and recluse. He could stand defiantly before thousands to proclaim the judgment of God on idol worship. Elisha was the prophet of the nation; He was more domestic, peaceable, helpful and quieter as we will see later. He speaks for God but in a much different way. Elisha was not Elijah. Joshua was not a Moses; Timothy was not a Paul, and there was no reason to be so.
All Christians are called to do service. Different people have different things that are on their heart to do and must not judge another for not having that same particular ministry, other than to be faithful to God.
Each Christian must evaluate his or her life and ask what needs to be cut out? One cannot seek to be a faithful student of the word of God and spend hours watching TV. A pastor cannot know his people and spend half his time with personal hobbies. One must become disciplined and seek those things which are above. We must not only decide the good, but the best things, leaving out some of the good.
Francis of Assisi was from a rich family, called of God and was disowned by his family. He stripped himself of his clothes and took on a simple tunic and turned his back on all his wealth to serve the less fortunate.
I am not saying we must be like Elisha or St. Francis of Assisi. That was God’s call on their lives, but a separated heart is willing to turn its back on things that allure us away from Christ and His priories for our lives.
Application: Where is your heart? Is it set apart for God?
Prayer: Lord, help me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Let me fix my eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of my faith – set apart for You.
