August Theme – Staggering Accomplishments
Staggering can be defined as very large, shocking or surprising. It can also be defined as causing great astonishment, amazement or dismay. Accomplishment on the other hand is defined as something that has been achieved successfully or an activity that a person can do well. It could also mean something done admirably or creditably.
In one of Jesus teaching, He told a parable of the sower. He said, as the sower went out sowing, some of his seed fell on roadside, some on rocky soils, others among thorns, and some fell on good soils. He went further to say that those that fell on the roadside got eaten by birds; those on rocky soils first grew rapidly but soon withered for lack of deep root; those that fell among thorns eventually got choked by the weeds. However, those on good soils were able to bear fruits and some yield fruits that were thirty times more than the planted seeds, others sixty times more and others a hundred times more (Mt. 13:1-8). This shows that in any kind of production, seed sowing or investment, there are different levels of profit, yield or dividend. There is the level of nothing; the level of few; the level of much and the level of too much.
In the land of Israel, prophethood is nothing new. It has been in existence from the time of Abraham who himself was called a prophet by God. However, all prophets do not operate on the same level or rating. They can be classified as lower, middle or higher prophets based on their intimacy with God and their ministerial accomplishments.
Unarguably, Prophet Elijah belonged to the higher class of prophets. He was able to sealed the heaven from dew and rain; he brought down fire from heaven at will; he raised the dead; etc. In all, the bible recorded about 16 miracles performed by Elijah.
Despite all that God used Elijah to do, if one should consider the life of Prophet Elisha, his own accomplishment was staggering. The bible recorded 32 miracles done by Elisha in his lifetime and an extra miracle even in death!
I hear the voice of God says, “Many of my sons and daughters have done excellently, but you will surpass them all”. This month and beyond, we must trust God for greater grace for staggering accomplishments in our personal lives; in our families and in our ministry. May it be so for us all in Jesus name.