Cornerstone

II Kings 2:1‑12 (9)

Elijah the senior prophet made such a profound impression upon the junior prophet Elisha that when he died Elisha’s last request was that he could have a “double portion of his spirit.”  To want to be like someone is impressive.  To want to have their spirit doubled tells of the awesome influence Elijah wielded.

Quite often you can assume what people have made an impression on people by who they quote.  Sometimes this is even seen in physical mannerisms that are unknowingly assumed.  During my college days at Kansas City College and Bible School I was privileged to sit under the teaching of some men of great spiritual prowess.  I have noticed since those days that students who attended the college with me were marked by these men as well.  A pithy quote from Dr. Omar Lee is often tossed into a conversations by one of his former students.  Many are the stories that are shared in and out of the pulpit by Dr. Robert E. Carroll’s preacher boys.  The classes that began on our knees and continued on through the next period are memories that glow brightly.

To know people of spiritual stature is noteworthy.  To emulate them desiring to attain spiritual vistas that they were unable to reach is desirable.  “Lord, could we have a double portion of their spirit?”

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Luke 10:25-37

Sometimes I wonder if God shakes His head in dismay.  As He observes our attempts to be good Christians there have to be times of divine discouragement.  We seem to learn rules and ritual more rapidly than right behavior.  As I read the following account shared by one of my online students I actually felt sorry for God.  A divine tear must have fallen on His royal robes as he watched this man in his attempt to be a responsible Christian leader.  Read and weep with God.

“When I first came to Christ, I was a real legalist.  Things had to be done a certain way or you were going to hell.  I did not give anybody any slack.  I not really interested in help serve people.  I just want to tell the truth of the Gospel and not really move to much farther beyond that.  That was until I had a unique experience happen to me in college.  When I was in college, I accepted Christ and got involved in the local Student Union.  After I was there for a few months, I volunteered to lead a Bible Study on Campus.  One day I was running late, so I grabbed my materials and ran up the hill to the building where the Bible Study was being held.  As I approached the top of the hill, A homeless man started toward me.  When I saw him, I moved to the other side of the street.  So he moved to the other side of the street.  I switched sides a few time, but he always followed me.  In my mind I said, “I do not have time for this.  I am late.  Maybe I can give him a few bucks and he will leave me alone.  So as I approached him, I pulled a few dollars out and handed it to him.  As he took the money, he grabbed my hand.  He would not let it go.  He said’ “Before you go, I have a quick question to ask you”.  I thought, “Ok here comes this guy’s sob story.”  He asked me “Do you know Christ?”  My heart sank.  He said’ “I see college kids go by all the time and I wonder if they know Jesus.”  At that moment I felt 2 inches tall.  Here I was going to teach a Bible Study about Christ and missed an opportunity to minister to someone else.  As we talked, he told me that it was hard to share with people because he did not have a bible.  I had some with me so I gave him one.  I walked away changed that day. “

Now it is time for us to pray.  Can we be changed like this young man?  Can we understand and order our priorities so that they follow God’s plan rather than our preconceived notion of what it means to please God?

by Dr. Gayle Woods