by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God’s Remnant

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

State capital buildings are large, even in a sparsely populated states like South Dakota. This building housed not only the state senate and house of representatives but the state supreme court. With all that activity, there must be a large crew of custodians, right? However, on the day that I visited the capital, this person cleaning the steps was the only person I saw.

There were security guards and administrative assistants walking around looking busy but only this person caring for the capital’s appearance.

How lonely, discouraging, and overwhelming to think that you are the only one making a difference.

“[Elijah] said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’”
1 Kings 19:10 English Standard Version

Everything that Elijah said was true. There were many people who killed the prophets, tore down altars used to worship Yahweh, and who broke faith with God. This is what Elijah saw even after Yahweh’s triumph over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

But was it true? Was it true that he was alone?

[God said to Elijah,] ‘Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’”
1 Kings 19:18 English Standard Version

It’s hard to know how encouraged Elijah was with the number of people left, not really that big of a number, however, the fact that he was not alone encouraged him to move forward.

You might feel alone, as though you’re the only one in your family or among your friends who holds on to grace of God in Christ Jesus. Even in the community of God’s people, there are times that we feel alone, like we’re the only people who have a passion for God’s love in Jesus, but that isn’t true.

God will always leave a remnant of people who are there with you. You can count on it.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado