Student Devotional - Week 35: Prophet Elisha: Equipped for God's Purpose

Key Verse: I Thessalonians 5:24 - "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

I remember the first time I was asked to fill in for the morning disc jockey at a local Christian radio station. I'd been a deejay in the 80s, but today's technology made radio a new adventure. The regular morning person taught me the basic computer skills for the job. He prepared me well, but I was still nervous on my first day. I made a few mistakes, but the training helped me to keep the station on the air for four hours.

Elijah was a mentor to Elisha. While Elijah was hiding out from Queen Jezebel, God told him to anoint Elisha as the next prophet. The two men spent ten years together. When God took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire, Elisha was left to carry on the work.

When the time came for Elisha to do God's work without his mentor, Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak and struck the water of the Jordan River. The water parted, and the people watching knew God had called Elisha to be Elijah's successor.

God performed many miracles through Elisha; but most importantly, Elisha always spoke God's words in God's time.

You may be fortunate enough to have a mentor to train you to fulfill God's call on your life. Perhaps your mentor may be your youth minister or your parent. But the day will come when you must step out on your own and do God's work. You can trust God; He'll never call you to a task without giving you what you need to accomplish it.