True Identity
Today’s Verse
And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. ~ 2 Kings 4:9
Hospitality is when we open our hearts and our homes to take care of other people. It is a means of making a visitor feel welcome, accepted, and encouraged. A woman who lived in Shunem opened her home up to Elisha the prophet. She did not know he was a prophet at the time, but extended hospitality to this stranger who came through her city more than once. She recognized that there was something uniquely different about this stranger that she entertained. She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.” She knew his identity by his testimony. How do people know if you are a real Christian or a fake? How did this woman recognize his true identity?
She perceived it because of his courtesy.
Elisha demonstrated politeness, gentleness, courtesy, and couth. He was a man possessed with good manners. He was respectful of her home, her property, and her person. He did not take advantage of her or even once become presumptuous about her hospitality. He demonstrated the courtesies of “please,” “may I,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” He was not rude, impolite, or foolish in action. Christians must be people who demonstrate the highest example of politeness and courtesy to all men.
She perceived it because of his character.
Elisha was a man of character. Character is doing the right things at all times. I imagine him offering to do chores and work around her property. I imagine that he was proactive around her home. He did not come in late, show any disrespect to her schedule, or use anything that belonged to her as if it was his. He was conversational and demonstrated being someone easy to get along with. There was nothing shady, untruthful, or false about his character.
She perceived it because of his consecration.
Most importantly, he lived above reproach by his walk with God. She saw him reading his Bible and heard him praying. She saw that he had a genuine walk with God. She saw him worship God with passion. He redeemed his time reading, praying for extended seasons of time, and talking about the things of the Lord. She said, “I perceive that this is an holy man of God.” He didn’t talk about his membership in the Jewish temple: instead, he spoke about his Saviour and what Jesus did for him. Paul said that godliness is profitable unto all things.
She perceived it because of his consistency.
Elisha passed by her home continually. He was consistent in his spirit, speech, and spirituality. In order for our testimony to have an impact on others, we must be consistent in godliness and lifestyle. Paul said that we should as children of the light. We should walk circumspectly, as wise and not as fools. People make decisions for the Lord and about the Lord based on the kind of testimony we have. On one extreme, we should not be isolated and so private that no one knows who we are. On the other extreme, we must remember that our testimony should be like a city on a hill. We should be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Do people know your true identity?
Have a blameless God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 1-2