2 Kings 1:2-3

Sometimes, everything in life seems to get stuck, and we desperately need a fresh start. Mark describes how God made a new beginning possible by sending His Son to earth. This reading plan shows what it means to leave our old life behind and start over - with the Lord Jesus.

The towering figures who dominate the pages of 1 and 2 Kings are not the kings themselves, but the prophets, often called “men of God.” These messengers from God to the king and the people, with their faithful and often costly obedience, stand in stark contrast to the mostly bleak portrait of the monarchs of Judah and the unrelieved negative portrayal of the kings of Israel. Of these mighty people of faith, Elijah is the major player in the second half of 1 Kings. His story offers us deep lessons of faith and courage.

Elisha, the chosen successor to the great prophet Elijah, continues the practices that characterize his mentor’s ministry: boldness before kings, compassion for the vulnerable, and relentless faithfulness to the God who called and empowered him.

The Bible is full of stories about people who try to live to God's glory - with ups and downs. Elijah is such a man. He is a prophet who serves God wholeheartedly, but is also prone to despondency and depression. He confronts the king fearlessly, but flees from the queen. And in all this, God continues to care for His servant.