TEXT: 2 KINGS 2:23–24 NLT
[23] Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” [24] Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.
Discussion
Today’s devotional is about how to be careful when we know we are anointed of the Lord. The anointing of God on a believer has two sides. There is the side of love and compassion, while there is also the side of judgment. Jesus exhibited both sides. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and also judged the people who were buying and selling in the temple. Since we are God’s anointed, we must be very careful about how we use the anointing of God upon our lives.
That is why, as anointed children of God, our words really matter, and we can’t afford to say negative things, even jokingly. Imagine if God joked about someone by calling them “big head”; the head would become big instantly, even bigger than you expected. God’s word is not a joke.
Today’s Bible text tells the story of Elisha, who had just received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. The young children made fun of him, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. I believe Elisha must have been shocked because he never knew the anointing could work so quickly. Maybe he would have at least warned them before cursing them if he had known how powerful the anointing upon him was.
Brethren, you can’t just say anything with your mouth, nor can you think anyhow. Once you realize that the hand of God is heavy upon you, there is a posture of calmness and patience expected of the anointed. The anointed cannot just do anything they feel like doing because every step the anointed takes should be in alignment with God’s plan and purpose. Therefore, the anointed is a person under the authority of the Lord. He must be careful about what goes into and comes out of his mind and mouth.
I pray today that we shall use God’s anointing upon us the way God wants us to use it, in Jesus’ name.
Declarations:
I am anointed of the Lord to be a blessing to God’s people, in Jesus’ name. I shall use the anointing of God upon my life according to the will of God, in Jesus’ name.
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