Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
This weekend millions of Christians around the world are giving special attention to Elijah, the one-of-a-kind prophet to Israel in the days of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He had a problem: every Sabbath he went to "church or Sabbath school" he felt soul-starved. No bread of life; in fact, Israel were borrowing the religion of their neighbor nations, abandoning the truth. They were worshipping Baal. Horrible!
So, what did he do? Leave the "church" and start his own little offshoot "Israel"? Or join an "independent" group? The Bible record says he remained loyal to Israel, but he did do something. It wasn't preaching--his words were few, but "he prayed earnestly," we read (James 5:17, 18). And then we read, "he prayed again." He fought a battle of faith. He had to fight through a very serious issue: would the God of Israel listen to what he was praying? Did God have a healthy respect for Elijah as a person? If not, all his preaching to Ahab and Jezebel would be for nothing! And all his stay-at-home church services would be for nothing.
A very wise and discerning writer has declared frankly that the root problem with the church of today is the same Baal-worship that afflicted Israel, but it's unconscious. It's a constant tendency to slide into the thinking and worship of "Babylon." Some very conscientious people are so distressed by this subtle but lethal modern Baal-worship that they conclude there is nothing for them to do but leave the church. They have tried preaching and it hasn't helped.
But have they prayed like Elijah prayed? (a) "Earnestly"? Is their concern an unselfish one for the honor of God involved in the condition of the church, or is it for their own personal and family spiritual security? Defined simply, Baal-worship is worship of self disguised as the worship of Christ. How can a self-centered worship "condemn" the same thing? (b) Elijah "prayed again." Never stopped until rain came to bless the drought-stricken land. (c) His concern was to save someone in the general confusion. So, go to church with that concern, with a love for some soul. Pray, "Lord, make me to be a blessing today to some unknown person, even if I don't get a blessing for myself!" One humble church member whose prayers the God of heaven can honestly respect is more than a match for both "Ahab" and "Jezebel." God still has honest people everywhere; don't think you're "holier than thou." You may not be.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 16, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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