Persistence

Read: 2 Kings 2:1-18

Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” 2 Kings 2:6

IN WORD

Many Christians approach discipleship casually. It’s a self-improvement endeavor—great to do, but not particularly urgent or intense. In fact, many believers are quite content with their relationship with God. It sufficiently sustains them.

That’s one of the influences of our culture. The world supports those who are driven by financial and political success, but it hardly encourages those who are serious about faith. It even uses disparaging terms like radical or guilt-ridden for people who are devout beyond expectations. The world loves social conformity.

Elisha was not a socially acceptable disciple. He followed a radical prophet who had successfully challenged the idolatry of the age, and he insisted on following Elijah from city to city on the day the elder prophet was taken up. In other words, Elisha was a spiritual pest. And God honored him for it.

God always honors spiritual pests, people who are not content with a casual relationship with Him. Jesus responded to a blind man who would not quit yelling for Him, and He lauded a woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He illustrated prayer with parables about a man banging on a neighbor’s door and a woman pestering an unrighteous judge. He blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

IN DEED

What is your level of spiritual persistence? Are you content with how clearly you see God? With the fruit He’s bearing in your life? With the warmth and intimacy with which you relate to Him each day? The biblical message affirms that God is pleased with those who press in to Him and keep pressing in. It encourages people to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. You will find God’s presence to the degree that you seek His presence. And no one who seeks ever gets to a point of saying, “Okay, that’s enough. That’s all of Him I need.” Don’t let yourself rest at that point. God will honor your hungry persistence.

ADDITIONAL READING: Luke 18:1-7

If there is anything in your life more demanding than your longing after God, then you will never be a Spirit-filled Christian.

A. W. TOZER