Southside Scoop - 7.14.24 by southsidecoc

Southside Church of Christ

800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707

info@sside.org | www.sside.org

919.688.3535

STAFF

Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister

William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus

Candice P. Blount Church Administrator

Quentella Williams Executive Assistant

John Merriweather Online Campus Minister

Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director

DEACONS

John Alcox

Anthony Green, Sr.

Arthur Hackney

John Mathis

Chester Mayfield, Jr.

Roger McDougal

Joe Williams

Keith Wright

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

W E E K L Y W O R D

A Puzzling Confession

By RICKI FULLER

Even though GOD prepared Elijah through the various miracles he performed during his prophetic ministry, Elijah found himself bewildered, distraught, and tired/weary His vexed condition is revealed in the latter portion of Verse 4 in I Kings 19 as follows: “And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.””

Questions arise as to why Elijah’s concluding statement to GOD was “ , for I am no better than my fathers ” What was the basis of that statement? Was he referring to the times when Moses disobeyed GOD? Or, was he talking about the blatant sins the Israelites committed after being led to freedom by Moses from the Egyptians? Or who, in his own family, had Elijah seen blatantly disobey GOD? Perhaps we’ll not get answers those (otherperspective) questions. Yet, with Elijah having so emotionally aligned himself with his ancestors, we are left to wonder why he was really so despondent We know he was tired, but was there more?

Here’s a plausible thought that has popped up out of left field Perchance, did Elijah happen to realize that while he did not worship known idol gods nor sin as did many Israelites, he perceived (through his prophetic experiences) that he had become his own idol? Imagine that possibility for a moment. He was the big man on the block whom countless people looked to for guidance Later, Elijah even told GOD he was the only person left in Israel who was doing and saying anything good regarding Him In a sense, that can be interpreted as self-worship/ self-importance

Has there ever been times when you/we thought rather highly of yourself/ourselves based on your/our various accomplishments, or on accolades given you/us by other people? And, in so doing, you/we gave credit to your/our own efforts without recognizing GOD as THE reason for your/our ‘greatness’ (misguidedly)? Yet, GOD, with the same grace extended to Elijah, did and does the same for you/ us! Yes, GOD granted much grace to Elijah throughout the accounts shown in I Kings 17 through II Kings 2. It is by GOD’s Grace that Elijah’s emotional healing took place to the point he was able to successfully advise Ahab again (without negative feelings hindering his service for GOD’s purpose). With GOD having left Elijah to himself “to show that when he was bold and strong it was in the Lord and the power of His might, but of himself he was no better than his fathers”/relatives. Healing it was with no more brokenness nor puzzlement! We, too, are healed by GOD’s Grace while we honor Him in our everyday lives/activities! William Murphy’s song, Same Grace, clarifies our healing and victory: “After all that I've been through… He wouldn't let the devil consume me, Because God knew He could use me… What He's done for me, He'll do the same for you… 'Cause He's given you the same grace…”Thank You, Lord!