Post by Woody Williams on Feb 6, 2006 8:23:50 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- II Kings 4:8-20, 32-37
----------
One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman
lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way,
he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, 'Look, I am
sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God.
Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a
bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever
he comes to us.'
One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down
there. He said to his servant Gehazi, 'Call the Shunammite woman.'
When he had called her, she stood before him. He said to him, 'Say to
her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done
for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or
to the commander of the army?' She answered, 'I live among my own
people.' He said, 'What then may be done for her?' Gehazi answered,
'Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.' He said, 'Call her.'
When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, 'At this
season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.' She replied, 'No, my
lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant.'
The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as
Elisha had declared to her.
When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the
reapers. He complained to his father, 'Oh, my head, my head!' The
father said to his servant, 'Carry him to his mother.' He carried him
and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon,
and he died.
When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his
bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed
to the Lord. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child,
putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his
hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of
the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the
room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven
times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and
said, 'Call the Shunammite woman.' So he called her. When she came to
him, he said, 'Take your son.' She came and fell at his feet, bowing
to the ground; then she took her son and left.
Devotional
----------
In Exodus God declares to the people of Israel, "I am the Lord your
Healer." Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, God's desire
and power to heal our diseases is evidenced. We know God heals in
many ways - drugs, surgery, and therapies of many kinds and prayer.
In our day there is more recognition given to the effects of prayer
on healing. Persons for whom prayer is offered heal more quickly and
more often with less pain. The kingdom of God is among us in Christ.
Be bold to offer your needs to God in prayer and ask others to join
you.
Prayer
-----------------
Be my healer, O God, and guide me to live close to your healing
presence. Amen
----------
One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman
lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way,
he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, 'Look, I am
sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God.
Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a
bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever
he comes to us.'
One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down
there. He said to his servant Gehazi, 'Call the Shunammite woman.'
When he had called her, she stood before him. He said to him, 'Say to
her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done
for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or
to the commander of the army?' She answered, 'I live among my own
people.' He said, 'What then may be done for her?' Gehazi answered,
'Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.' He said, 'Call her.'
When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, 'At this
season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.' She replied, 'No, my
lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant.'
The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as
Elisha had declared to her.
When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the
reapers. He complained to his father, 'Oh, my head, my head!' The
father said to his servant, 'Carry him to his mother.' He carried him
and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon,
and he died.
When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his
bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed
to the Lord. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child,
putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his
hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of
the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the
room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven
times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and
said, 'Call the Shunammite woman.' So he called her. When she came to
him, he said, 'Take your son.' She came and fell at his feet, bowing
to the ground; then she took her son and left.
Devotional
----------
In Exodus God declares to the people of Israel, "I am the Lord your
Healer." Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, God's desire
and power to heal our diseases is evidenced. We know God heals in
many ways - drugs, surgery, and therapies of many kinds and prayer.
In our day there is more recognition given to the effects of prayer
on healing. Persons for whom prayer is offered heal more quickly and
more often with less pain. The kingdom of God is among us in Christ.
Be bold to offer your needs to God in prayer and ask others to join
you.
Prayer
-----------------
Be my healer, O God, and guide me to live close to your healing
presence. Amen