Avoiding Spiritual Famine: 2 Kings
On the menu today: Reflecting on famine; How to stay spiritually "full;" and learning how God used an unlikely servant girl to accomplish His purpose.
Welcome to the Daily Bible Podcast Coffee Club!
We’re Tricia and Michelle, two friends inviting you to join us in reading through the Bible chronologically this year. These daily emails are designed to be a cozy companion to your morning coffee. So pour a cup, grab your Bible, and let’s dig into God’s truth.
We hope you’ll stick around!
Word of the Day Espresso Shot
Word of the Day: Famine
There’s a unique TV show called Alone. It’s similar to Survivor, except, as the name suggests, contestants are truly and utterly on their own. Instead of being filmed by a camera crew, the contestants film themselves as they navigate trying to survive in the wilderness. The last person standing wins a million dollars.
As the competition begins, confidence soars. Contestants build shelters, set up fishing nets, and film themselves talking about how excited they are for the opportunity.
But as days turn into weeks, you can see spirits begin to fall. And something happens that ends up being the reason several people choose to quit the competition: They get hungry.
At first, it’s bearable. As they try to get more substantial food like fish or wild game, contestants survive on berries and leaves. They lose some weight, but even that is OK. But after several days, the lack of nutrition starts to do more than just make their stomachs rumble. The hunger begins messing with their minds. And eventually, with starved, hunched over frames, crazed eyes, and drooped shoulders, the starving contestant phones in their surrender. They are finished. The hunger wins— and the game is lost.
As Tricia pointed out in today’s podcast, our world is in a spiritual famine right now. Just like on Alone, the hunger for truth and our Creator messes with people’s heads, hearts, spirits, and minds.
But just because we live in times of famine, doesn’t mean we have to starve. We have the bread of life- Jesus. We have God’s word. Stay connected with Him, and you will make it to the end— either the end of your life, or when Jesus comes back in all His glory to take us to the place we will never be hungry— heaven.
Today’s Challenge
You eat three times a day. But how often do you connect with God? This doesn’t mean you have to do three quiet times a day— although that would be wonderful too! But make a commitment to check in with God throughout your day through prayer and worship. Pray while you drive or work out. Worship at your desk before your big meeting. Take a walk after dinner to thank God for His blessings. Don’t let yourself get spiritually starved— stay filled up with God’s presence.
Memory Verse
5 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:35-37
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Today’s Coffee Chat
If you skip a meal, you may get dizzy, grumpy, tired, or have low energy. What are some signs that you are spiritually hungry? What can you do when you notice these in yourself?
Going Deeper than a Venti: Reflection and Journal Prompt
In 2 Kings 5 we learn about the servant girl who connected King Naaman with Elisha. David Guzik goes deeper into her story in this Bible commentary:
“And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”
a. Had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel: This girl was an unwilling missionary, taken captive from Israel and now in Syria. Yet God allowed the tragedy of her captivity to accomplish a greater good.
i. The young girl illustrates the mysterious ways God works. She was probably raised in a godly home, yet taken from her family at a young age. It was an irreplaceable loss for her parents, and one they no doubt grieved over every day. Yet, she was greatly used in a simple way.
b. If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria: This young girl was an outstanding example of a faithful witness in her current circumstance. She cared enough to speak up, and she had faith enough to believe that Elisha would heal him of his leprosy.
i. “And see the benefits of a religious education! Had not this little maid been brought up in the knowledge of the true God, she had not been the instrument of so great a salvation.” (Clarke)” -David Guzik
Journal Prompt
What’s a negative experience in your past that you’ve seen God work for His good?
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