Breaking with the old.

There are some things that require a break away from the old. There are new ways that require a break away from the old ways. 

St Paul writing to the Corinthians says 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, new things have come.

When I was relocating from the tropics to the cold climate, my sisters told me to leave most of my old clothing behind because they will not be useful where I am going. I needed new things to be prepared for the environment.

In the same way there is a calling that requires a complete breakaway from the old if we are to reach its full potential. Matthew 9:17 Jesus speaking to the Pharisees said 'New wine is not poured into old wine skins'.

There are several things we can learn from Elisha and his response to his calling.

In 1 Kings 19, Yahweh told Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor. Elijah met Elisha going about his 'business', he was plowing with oxen. When Elijah anointed him, it dawned on him the magnitude of what had just happened. Immediately he slew the oxen he had been ploughing with and followed Elijah. The slaying of the oxen was symbolic of his termination with any ties to his previous life.

In 2 Kings 2, we see again a symbolic act from Elisha. After his master Elijah was taken up into heaven, he took off his own clothes and tore them. Then he picked up his master's mantle which had fallen off him and went back with it.

His rending of his own garments was again symbolic, he was breaking away from his past as a minor prophet and by taking up Elijah's mantle, took up his new responsibility as a major prophet with double the spirit of his master. Without the mantle, Elisha would have been unable to part the waters of the Jordan to cross over to the other side. His own cloak would not have parted the waters. With his new mantle of authority, his fellow prophets who had previously walked beside him, bowed before him because they realized he had received the spirit of his master.

Today I pray upon us all the courage to answer the call and to break with the old when we answer; and I decree that authorities shall be made subject to our authority because of the spirit we carry, the spirit of the living God. Be blessed.