Power to Choose:
How Long Will You Waver? – Part 2

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:16-20

Key Verse: 1 Kings 18:21

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

As we continue looking at the choice the Prophet Elijah presented to God’s people, we see that they refused to respond.  The last phrase of verse 21: “But the people said nothing.”  Elijah had his work cut out for him, but God had a plan to help His people’s faith.

There were 450 false prophets standing and wooing God’s people; 450 voices of temptation; 450 “educated” people influencing God’s people to turn from their faith in the one true God.  That is some heavy duty pressure on Elijah and the people of God.

How much pressure did you feel yesterday or today to turn from the things you know are right and true?  Could your pressure be compared to these 450 well respected men tempting Israel?  Possibly so, but most of us don’t face that kind of pressure often.  Yet, we too often cave to much less pressure—dishonoring God.

Elijah, under God’s direction, set up a challenge to these 450 false prophets that would prove that Israel’s God was the only true God.  In 1 Kings 18:39 we read the results: “When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord–He is God! The Lord–He is God!”  God had given them what they needed to believe and choose Him.  God wants to do the same for us—don’t waver, you have the power.

Father, thank you for your power in me.  I claim it.  I will face circumstances and temptations with that power to choose you over sin.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.