1 Kings 2: Desiring to Be Used by God

"When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.' And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.'" 2 Kings 2:9

Have you ever asked the Lord to use you, whatever the cost? Have you ever asked him to do a mighty work in you that others might come to know him more? Have you ever desired for the Lord to accomplish his purposes through your life?

In 2 Kings 2, a man by name of Elisha did this very thing. Elisha was the great prophet Elijah's apprentice. When it was clear that Elijah's time of ministry was over, Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him before he left. Elisha answered with a glorious request: "please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me."

At first, this seems like an odd request, but let us examine what is truly being asked here. When Elisha asked for a "double portion," this is analogous to the "double portion" of the inheritance that the firstborn son of a family would receive after the father of the family had past away. Elisha asking for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit was not him asking for double the power or double the effectiveness, but rather simply asking to be his God-appointed successor, just as a son succeeds his father. Furthermore, Elisha was asking here that the Lord's power be upon him to do the work of the Lord, just as this was true in Elijah's spirit. In summary, Elisha asked to be used by God.

How many times have we asked of the Lord to use us? Perhaps way to few. So often, we use God instead of ask God to use us. We often use God for our own purposes rather than having him use us for his. Nevertheless, this is not the pattern Elisha shows us here in 2 Kings 2, nor is it the pattern of the Gospel.

So, the next time you make a request of God, ask him to use you. Do not go to him with empty requests, but have a heart of service as Elisha did, requesting permission and power to have an effective ministry for God. If you do so, God will surely grant this request. Amen!