1 Kings 19:15-16; 19-21 (NRSV)
Read 1 Kings 19:15-16; 19-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Verse 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
Verse 19So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. Verse 20He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" Verse 21He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Devotion
As an unrepentant fan of the Game of Thrones television show, I recall the character Jon Snow receiving the black cloak that marked him a brother of the Night Watch, guardian of the realm. Taking on this mantle was not just a symbol of what he was to become but also a powerful symbol of what he would no longer be: free to travel, love, marry or choose his own future. It was a noble "cloaking" and a fearsome one. So it is with Elisha. So it is for us as we take on the mantle of discipleship. While discipleship is "good news!" primarily about what our life will be, we no longer define ourselves. Rather it is Christ who defines us. It is a holy cloaking, fearsome and filled with promise.
Prayer
Calling God, whether narrow or broad, make our shoulders strong for the mantle. Draw us irresistibly into the newness of being yours. Uplift us for the task of discipleship. Make our hearts stout for the fearsome hope that is a life lived in you. Amen.