7月29日
标 题：双倍的分量
经 节：过去之后，以利亚对以利沙说：“我未曾被接去离开你，你要我为你做什么只管求我。”以利沙说：“愿感动你的灵加倍地感动我。”（列王纪下二章9节）
从没有一个人像以利亚一样。以利亚曾经使死人复活、吩咐火由天而降，及透露神的严重干旱计划。以色列人一定肯定，没有其他先知拥有像以利亚一样的能力，直到以利沙的出现。毋庸置疑地，摩西是希伯来人曾跟随过的最伟大的领袖，然而，神安排约书亚成就摩西未完成的工作。在大卫的统治下，以色列国到达强盛的最高峰，但他被神拒绝创建圣殿，由他的儿子完成富丽堂皇的圣殿。
我们可能会信任神在我们身边安排的属灵领袖，多过于信任神自己。历史教导我们，虽然这些敬虔的人是那么受重用，然而神总有另一个摩西、以利亚和大卫，通常后继者会有前辈加倍的灵。
神的目的不是要依赖我们，祂有无限的方法完成祂的计划。这位带领摩西的神，同样也能使用约书亚。就算没有人愿意事奉祂，神照样能以祂自己属天的大能，完成祂的计划。对神而言，我们绝对不是不能替代的，祂会完成祂自己的目标。问题是：我们能否有分于神的作为，还是祂会找其他人？如果我们以为自己在神面前，是不可缺少的一环，我们就是自欺了。事奉神是神赐给我们的荣幸，不是我们施给神的小惠。
如果你正痛失自己的属灵领袖，不要沮丧。神会有另一位领袖，因为祂会确保完成祂的计划。也许祂正预备你成为那位领袖。
A Double Portion
And so it was, when they had crossed over, that
Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away
from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit
be upon me.” (2 Kings 2:9)
There had never been a man like Elijah. Elijah had
raised the dead, called down fire from heaven, and revealed God’s plans for a
devastating drought. The Israelites must have felt certain there would never be
another prophet like Elijah, until Elisha came along. Moses was arguably the mightiest
leader the Hebrews had ever followed, yet God prepared Joshua to accomplish
what not even Moses had achieved. David’s reign marked a high point for the
nation of Israel, yet it was Solomon who carried out the task that was denied
his father, by building the spectacular temple.
We can be tempted to put more trust in the leaders
God gives us than in God Himself. History teaches that, as wonderful as these
godly people are, God always has another Moses, Elijah, or David. Often the
successor will come with a double portion of their predecessors’ spirits.
God’s purposes do not depend on us. He has
limitless ways to accomplish His will. The same God who led Moses could also
use Joshua. If no one were willing to serve Him, the Lord would accomplish His
work by His own divine power. We are not irreplaceable to the Lord. He will
achieve His purposes. The question is this: Will we be a part of God’s
activity, or will He find someone else? We deceive ourselves if we think we are
indispensable to God. Service to the Lord is an honor God bestows on us, not a
favor we do for God.
If you are mourning the loss of one of your
leaders, do not despair. God has another leader, for He will see that His will
is carried out. It may even be that He has been preparing you to be that
leader.
