1 Kings 17:24

I know that thou art a man of God.

Elijah

1. From whom does the testimonial come? “I know.” These are the words of the heathen villager, a poor widow, living in an out-of-the-way place, probably as ignorant as she was poor. Possibly she had heard nothing of the controversy about Baal, and knew nothing of Elijah’s great work; yet she it is who sets up as a judge in the matter. “I know.” Quite so. Everybody is a judge of goodness. Like love, for which goodness is only another name, it is a thing which everybody can see and know and honour. There is no ignorance in the matter of goodness.

(1) It is a testimonial from one of another religion. She was a heathen, belonging to another nation. She had her own notions of things, and held them as tenaciously as Elijah held to his religion. To her his belief and worship might be all unmeaning, possibly at first a matter of ridicule, even of scorn. Yet she cannot withhold her hearty confession, full of admiration, almost of envy--“I know that thou art a man of God.” Goodness is greater than sects and more than names. Let the world see the goodness, and they do not care what church that man goes to; whether he uses a prayer book or not matters to nobody, or whether he is led up to service by a peal of bells or a big drum. “I know,” said she. How much there was she did not know about the man. She had never seen him as the prophet of fire; had probably never heard how he had gone into the presence of the king and queen, and before all the priests of Baal, and the assembled hosts of Israel, and spoken the word of the Lord. Goodness is like love again in this, and like God whose name is Love, it is everywhere and in everything.

(2) That this testimony comes from the right place. “I know,” said this good woman of Zarephath. I think if anybody had questioned her right to an opinion she would have quickly silenced them. “The man lived in my house. I ought to know. There is nobody in the land who has seen more of him than I have, and I know that he is a man of God.” You may accept that testimony. Depend upon it, if those at home do not believe in us, the less profession we make elsewhere the better. Our certificates of church membership are signed by the minister; it were well if they were countersigned at home.

2. Let us look at the character: a man of God. It is a grand title--the grandest ever conferred on any man. Let us think that day after day the character of each of us is being built up for eternity. The spirit and aim of the life is making more fixed and defined that which we shall be for ever. Let every one of us ask himself, Am I a man, a woman, of God? Whatever else we are, all must be a failure if we are not that. Whatever else we are, the best and highest life is ours only if we have surrendered ourselves to the love and service of God.

(1) The man of God is much more than merely a religious person. There were many such, I doubt not, in those times; as there are in these. Listen to this one: “It is a mistake,” he says quite angrily--“I knew it would be, and I said so all along--this religion of Jezebel’s is all very well for the people of Phoenicia where she comes from; but it is not natural to bring it down here. It does not suit our soil.” Here is another religious person. But hush--please do not speak so loud. Yes, he trusts that he is a true worshipper certainly--in heart, you know, in heart--and that is everything; isn’t it? But please don’t mention it--he would rather that it was not known. “Just now the times are really very trying, very; and it is difficult to know how to act for the best. To offend the queen would be so very damaging to one’s prospects; and really Jezebel is so passionate that she would stop at nothing. Altogether it is very difficult to be what one would. So I do just go up to Jezreel and bow before Baal--only go through the form, you know, for the sake of peace; but at the heart I am, of course, a true Israelite.” We know that man too. You may call him by very few names that are not too good. He certainly is no man of God.

(2) A man of God! Make room for Elijah. A man who is given up to God; who lives to know God’s will and to do it through and through him with all his might. Wherever that man goes, all know and feel that the God of Israel liveth. Think of the land from which God Himself is shut out: His voice is not heard; His authority is ignored; His worship is neglected. But here is one in whom God comes again into the very midst of men. That is ever the man of God--he brings a new light, by which things are seen aright: a new standard by which men do correct their estimate of things. Right and wrong are no mere names, but stand out sharply and severed from one another by a gulf like that which separates heaven from hell. Look at England in the last century, and at the transformation that was wrought from end to end of the land through the preaching of the Wesleys and Whitefield. Here and there, in town and village, some one got converted, and became a man or woman of God. Then there entered into the place a new light, a new conscience, a new authority. But many are children of God who do not become men of God. Feed upon the word; dwell in communion with God; exercise yourself day by day in His service. Set yourself every day in His strength to serve Him at any cost, and put yourself at His disposal; check and test yourself by the thought of His will. Push out after higher things; live in this spirit and exercise it in faithfulness to God and service to men: then shall this high joy and dignity be ours--we shall come to be enrolled amongst the men of God. (M. G. Pearse.)

Charged with blessing

Touch the hand of a man who is being thrilled by a galvanic battery, and you will feel the shock. So, if we are charged with Holy Ghost power, those who come into contact with us will soon discover it. There is more connection with the name and character of Barnabas than appears. The man filled with the Spirit became a son of consolation to others.