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Statue of Elijah
2 Kings 13 has an interesting story. The prophet Elisha is on his deathbed. The king of Israel, Jehoash, comes to cry. But much like every focused follower of God, Elisha isn't actually done...yet. 

Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.
Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”
Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”
Then Elisha died and was buried. ~2 Kings 13:15-20

Jehoash probably wasn't expecting that. He didn't know he'd be getting schooled in life as Elisha was preparing for death. But let's try to learn the lesson before we think about death. 

Elisha got angry because of the lack of passion Jehoash showed. Maybe Elisha was quick to be angry because of his circumstance, but I imagine it's more than that. Here he was, working until the very end, so the least the king could do was show some passion. When a prophet spoke, it was on behalf of God. So you could say that God told the king to bang the arrows on the ground. 

If God tells you to do something, then let's act like we believe God has given us a mission, a calling, a job and the strength to complete it. You may get tired, but who said God ever got tired. 

I recently shared my rules regarding youth ministry, but the same applies to all of us. I have thought about trying something else. I have thought about silencing my writing, my preaching. I have considered that there are enough others that maybe my voice, like banging arrows on the ground, isn't all that necessary. 

I can't stop. I am compelled. So are you. 

Keep going!
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