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SCRIPTURE READINGS

2 KINGS 2:1-2, 13-25
GALATIANS 5:1,13-15
LUKE 9: 51-62

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Single-mindedness” It is the quality of being very determined and thinking only about achieving a particular thing. Single-mindedness is required in our relationship with God as believers. We shall reflect on the following facts about being single-minded as a believer:
1. Single-mindedness requires total dedication.
2. Single-mindedness in pleasing God requires love.
3. Single-mindedness involves responding and prioritizing our call without excuses.

Firstly, single-mindedness is a requirement to the believer who seeks spiritual empowerment through service. Elisha was dedicated and consistent in serving Elijah to the end and he received a double portion of Elijah’s spiritual empowerment. Through Elisha’s spiritual empowerment the Jordan River was divided into two (2 Kings 2:13-14), Again, through his spiritual empowerment, he cured a well with bad water (2 Kings 2:19-21). Dear child of God, a servant of God who demonstrates single-mindedness through dedication and consistency will receive spiritual empowerment to accomplish great exploits. When the disciples dedicated themselves and consistently obeyed the instruction of Jesus they received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4 to achieve the purpose of the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20. It is the single-mindedness or the dedication and consistency of Peter that made him receive spiritual empowerment to heal the lame beggar when he said, “ “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. (Acts 3:6-8) Again, It is the dedication and consistency of Paul and Silas, that made them experience the power of the Holy Spirit while they were in prison and chains. We are told that “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. (Acts 16:25-26) Beloved in the Lord, when we are single-minded through our dedication and consistency in serving the Lord, we shall receive and continue to experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Secondly, to please God, we must be single-minded in humility and loving one another to maintain the unity of the fellowship or the church. Paul admonished us to be single-minded when it comes to loving one another. He wrote “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:13-15) The church will not grow and we shall fail to please God if we fail to focus on loving one another and submitting our will to the Holy Spirit for His guidance. We are greatly called upon to eschew any conduct that breeds division or disunity and single-minded in maintaining the bond of unity in the church. There is nothing we cannot achieve when we are emotionally and spiritually bonded as a family. We must demonstrate unconditional love devoid of favouritism, slander, gossip and envy in the church. Our single-mindedness of love must be demonstrated in Paul’s admonishment in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 when he wrote, ” Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Each member of the congregation must be single-minded in working towards love and mutual affection in the congregation

Thirdly, our single-mindedness in fulfilling our purpose in God’s mission must be demonstrated in prioritizing our calling without habitually giving excuses. Without single-mindedness, we cannot focus on our calling and wholly avail ourselves. Believers who are not single-minded about their calling give constant excuses such as “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (Luke 9:59), Jesus’s response is, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60). Another excuse is “…first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus’ reply is, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62) In the parable of the great banquet, Jesus gave other examples of excuses that some Christians are accustomed to. Jesus said “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ (Luke 14:16-20) We are not different from the those invitees in many ways, some of us lack the single-mindedness to prioritize our calling because we use our work, business, marriage, family and other mundane engagements as excuses. The Lord is still calling us in our generation through the voice of Prophet Isaiah “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ” (Isaiah 6:8) We who are single-minded and focused on our calling must respond with Isaiah saying, ““Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Let us remember that there is a reward when we remain single-minded on our calling and God’s mission, for Jesus, has assured us that “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

In summary, we have discovered that to be single-minded as believers, we must be dedicated and consistent in serving the Lord. Again, love must be the foundation of our Christian fellowship, and last but not least, we must prioritize and respond to our calling without excuses. May the Holy Spirit endow us with single-mindedness even as we prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.