sokin's devotional 5

"so Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant."

1 Kings 19:19-21

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The calling of Elisha prompts Elisha to literally drop everything, surrender his life, and follow Elijah.

Literally.

The "kiss" symbolizes his allegiance not to his parents no longer, but to God and the calling he has received.

He takes his oxen, kills them, and uses the very equipment he was using to cook it. Elisha literally gave up his livelihood - the very means of surviving. He let everything go in light of God's effecting calling on his life.

How willing am I to surrender everything in this manner? To drop everything, to let go of my livelihood and family and everything closest to me - how willing and enthusiastic am I to do such a thing like Elisha?