Deadly Gourd Stew
“When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, ‘Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.’
“Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were. So they poured it out for the men to eat. And it came about as they were eating of the stew, that they cried out and said, ‘O man of God, there is death in the pot.’ And they were unable to eat.
“But he said, ‘Now bring meat.’ And he threw it into the pot, and he said, ‘Our it out for the people that they may eat.’ Then there was no harm in the pot.” II Kings 4:38-4 2
There was a serious famine. People all around them were starving. Elisha wanted to provide some sustenance for the other prophets who were serving God, but there was little to choose from and the gourds were bitter.
Today, we are also living through a spiritual famine. People have turned from God and His Law to more ‘appealing and modern ways to worship’. Although famine from food is serious, far more dangerous is starvation from lack of spiritual truth.
False teaching may look and seem harmless enough and successful -- but in God’s eyes it is disgusting and deadly to the people who entertain it. As those who know the truth…we have the ‘ingredient of Scripture’ that can help others identify the poison of evil. It is our privilege to share ways for others to identify what is bitter and deadly from what is truth and good.
Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.
PS: You can also find the devotions on line/ on your mobile phone here: www.weakdaydevotion.com .
NOTE: I choose to believe the Bible because it's a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place before, of specific prophecies; and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
Find my full statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of Bible studies). For the books, go to Amazon books. For prayer requests/ updates, email: darlenerichard@gmail.com