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A God Who Acts
[Elijah prayed,] “O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the ditch! And when the people saw it, they fell on their faces and cried out, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” 1 Kings 18:37-39
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At the showdown at Mount Carmel, Elijah pitted the Baal gods against the Lord God, and no matter what the 450 prophets of Baal did—dance wildly, cut themselves, and shout for hours for Baal to answer—there was “no reply, no voice, no answer” (v. 29). But when Elijah placed himself before the Lord and did what God showed him to do by rebuilding the altar and praying, God heard and answered in a mighty way. He revealed himself by sending fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice and everything surrounding it, even the water. And the people returned to him.
Our God is not a “God at a distance” as a popular song and modern culture often depicts him. He is not like the impotent false gods who had no reply, no voice, and no answer. The Lord is a God who not only hears and speaks but who answers and acts on behalf of those who seek him.
Prayers:
LORD, you are the one true God and I praise you! Thank you for going to such great lengths to demonstrate your power and to bring people back to you. Those great lengths led your only Son to the cross because of your love for those who are blind to your glory and power. Show yourself powerful in my life.
Quotes:
We cannot create the wind or set it in motion, but we can set our sails to catch it when it comes; we cannot make the electricity, but we can stretch the wire along upon which it is to run and do its work; we cannot in a word, control the spirit, but we can so place ourselves before the Lord, and so do the things he has bidden us to do that we will come under the influence and power of his mighty breath.
The Independent
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: 1 Kings 18:1-46; Acts 11:1-30; Psalm 135:1-21 and Proverbs 17:12-13.3
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