Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Thursday, January 17, 2019

Theme: BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD

Text:  “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.” –  Luke 4:25, 26.

Comment:  The story of the woman of Zarephath as recorded in 1 Kings 17:8-16 shows that the widow obeyed the word of the prophet Elijah to give him “a little water in a vessel” and “make for him a little cake” since he had assured her that God will provide for them until the day that the LORD will send rain upon the earth. In a great show of faith she went and “did according to the sayings of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days” for “the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.”  Stressing that her noble faith in God is worthy of everlasting remembrance and universal imitation, our Lord Jesus Christ used her case to rebuke the Jews for their stubbornness. All those who show faith in God, like the widow of Zarephath in obeying His word, even in the most trying circumstances will be helped and saved by Him in the end. St. Paul stated, “And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you…” (2 Thessalonians 3:4, 5) He assures us thus, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

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