Embracing Obedience (1 Kings 17:5)

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan.
—1 Kings 17:5

This is a phrase we see repeated multiple times in Elijah’s life: God speaks to him, and the Bible says he went and did according to God’s word. If you just read through 1 Kings 17, 18, 19, you’ll see the prominence of God’s Word in Elijah’s life.

As God speaks, Elijah obeys. Now, not every time—like we see in 1 Kings 19, we see the effects of that. But this whole picture is what I desire for my life; I trust it’s what you desire for your life: that when God speaks, we would obey, that we would hear his Word and do according to his Word. This is one of the things I pray continually over my life, over my family, those I work and share life alongside of, and members in my church family: I just pray that we would be immediately and gladly obedient to God in his Word.

What I love about Elijah is how God moves in such powerful ways as Elijah does this. God provides for Elijah in the middle of a famine. He uses Elijah to bring a woman’s son from death to life. He brings down rain from heaven and fire from the sky—all together—as Elijah goes and does according to God’s Word. So don’t underestimate what God wants to do in you and through you, in your family, through your family, in your work, through your work, in your church, through your church, as you go and do according to his Word.

Not content just to hear it, but to do it. Just like James 1 says: don’t merely listen to the Word—be hearers of the Word and deceive yourselves—do what it says. So, God, we pray this would be true of our lives. Help us to be obedient to your Word. May 1 Kings 17:5 be the summary of our lives today: that we heard and did according to what you said.

And, God, may that be true of us tomorrow and the next day and the next day. And as we do, God, we pray that we would experience all that you desire for us, in us, through us, as we walk in obedience to you.

And, God, when we disobey, please help us to repent quickly and to come back in line with your Word, which is good for us. Help us to trust your word as we obey it. Help us to obey it immediately and gladly, knowing that your Word leads us to life, knowing that your Word leads others to life.

God, help us to go today in the power of your Holy Spirit and speak your Word, share your Word with others. Help us to encourage other brothers and sisters in Christ with your Word. Help us to share your Word with people who don’t know you. Jesus, we pray for boldness today.

A Prayer for Bible Translation

And, God, we pray for people who don’t have your Word all around the world, for every language people group where there’s little to no access to your Word. We pray for the spread of your Word to all the peoples in all the languages of the world, that they might hear your Word and experience life in it. Please bless all who are working in Bible translation toward that end, we pray.

God, we pray all this according to your Word. We praise you for your Word. All in the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh. In his name we pray, according to 1 Kings 17:5. Amen.