The Only One – July 11, 2020

[Elijah] replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
1 Kings 19:14

The Only One

Sometimes the characters of the Bible—people like Noah, Abraham, Moses—might seem larger than life: fearless, faithful, and forceful fortifications of faith, relentless and unruffled no matter what tried to rouse them. But that’s just not accurate.

In fact, one of God’s representatives in the Old Testament, a man named Elijah, was so depressed and discouraged with the direction of his ministry and life that he ran away to a cave and exclaimed, “I am the only one left” (1 Kings 19:14).

Do you ever have an “Elijah moment”? Do you ever feel that you are “the only one left”? The only one among your friends or neighbors who tries to reflect God’s value system? The only one who has pressures and problems that you do? The only one who feels overwhelmed at what needs to get done and under-equipped to get it done?

When you have those moments, there is a better alternative than running away to a cave and indulging in self-pity. In those tough times, you can look to Jesus—the only One who could (and did!) forgive all of your sins. The only One who knows your every need and promises to help and never leave you. The only One who loved you enough to die on a cross so that you might live forever with him. The only One worthy to be called your Savior—the only Jesus.

Come out of your cave. Look at the cross. Bask in the peace of your Savior and live in the light of his larger than life love.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for sending your one and only Son, Jesus. He is the only One able to stand up underneath the pressures I cannot. He is the only One in whom I find salvation. Lead me to always live in the light and joy of his glory. Amen