Mosaic (Feb 20)

Amber Thiessen
Feb 20
6 min read

“But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you’” (2 Ki. 2:2).

A farmer teaches his son to drive the tractor, scout the fields, fix equipment, and network with agronomists, dealers, and other farmers. I got to be the daughter who tagged along for some of this in my younger years, but I knew farming wasn’t going to be my future. Carrying on the family farm wasn’t my calling or my desired profession — as gratifying as it was to plow fields, feel the soil beneath your hands, and watch seeds you’ve planted come to life.

Passing the baton isn’t always easy, whether it’s a family business, a leadership role, or a ministry.

Are we ready to let go? To trust someone else to take our place?

Are they ready to take on the full weight of leading?

Elijah had emerged from his cave of despair with renewed trust and fervor for God’s plans and purposes. He placed his cloak on Elisha’s shoulders, declaring that the calling would pass to him.

By this point, Elisha had sojourned beside Elijah for about eighteen years. They’d walked together all that time, and I wonder what was said, taught, and encouraged during those days. (I’d love to read a memoir from them both!) He’d seen Elijah confront the king of Israel one last time, and now his mentor’s final days were approaching.

They traveled together from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho and finally across the Jordan. At each place, Elijah asked Elisha to stay behind, seemingly to test the fervor of his conviction and perseverance. And every time he answered, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you” (2 Ki. 2:2).

Discipleship That Tests Our Perseverance

I’m reminded of a similar story — a young widow and her mother-in-law. Ruth could have returned to the security of her family, but instead she journeyed back to Israel with Naomi — to a foreign land and a foreign people. Her compassion and loyalty endured despite Naomi’s repeated attempts to send her away.

When we face uncertainty and difficult situations, do we share that same commitment to persevere?

Eugene Peterson describes lifelong discipleship as “a long obedience in the same direction.” We walk as pilgrims along the path of righteousness, apprenticed to the Lord Jesus. Yet in a culture shaped by instant gratification and driven by emotion, we drift easily from one pursuit to the next. We grow discouraged when our calling meets resistance, when ministry bears no immediate fruit, or when we wrestle with discipline, doubt, sin, and temptation.

Elisha didn’t choose the comfortable path, and neither did Ruth. They had already settled their allegiance before the testing came — and so they stayed.

Their resolve echoes Peter’s words to Jesus in Gospel of John 6:68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

When the road narrows and easier exits appear, discipleship asks us the same question. If Christ alone holds life, then we stay. Not because the way feels easy, but because our allegiance to Christ is settled.

Discipleship That Costs Us and Matures Us

Paul’s first missionary journey included Barnabas and a young John Mark, who seemed eager at first. Yet somewhere along the way, he lost his courage and turned back, unable to continue in the work of ministry.

Perhaps we’ve watched friends or family walk through immense hardship and slowly drift from their faith in Christ. Our hearts ache as we witness the struggle. We know a good and faithful God remains present, but they can’t see Him — and sometimes no longer want to. At times, they abandon the truth because faith feels too costly.

In our life with Christ, smooth sailing is never guaranteed. James reminds us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (Jam. 1:2–4). Trials provide opportunities to grow, to press deeply into our faith, to learn persistent prayer, and to depend on the Lord rather than on ourselves.

John Mark spent time afterward contemplating his decision, likely repenting, and growing in maturity. When Barnabas discovers this, he takes him along, giving him the needed second chance—despite Paul’s protest—the gospel is carried to more places.

If we find ourselves in seasons when we’ve drifted from the Lord — when spiritual disciplines lag, apathy creeps in, and our hearts feel distant — these moments are also opportunities to grow. To repent, draw near again, and “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).

Discipleship and the Promise of Blessing

Elisha knew the time had come. His mentor would be taken from him. With sorrow, he pleaded with the other prophets to stop reminding him of the impending loss. Yet walking alongside Elijah on this final journey, there was hope.

Traditionally, a dying person pronounced blessings on others. Knowing Elijah would soon leave this earth, Elisha anticipated the opportunity to receive God’s blessing on his life and ministry.

Finally, across the Jordan, the last leg of the trip, Elijah turns to him and invites his last request. Perhaps like Solomon, aware of his great need for God’s wisdom to lead, Elisha asks not for something material, but for a spiritual blessing — the blessing a firstborn would usually receive: a double portion. And by God’s grace, he received it.

Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David. The gospel continues to spread across the Roman Empire. Paul, Mark, and Barnabas reconcile. And Elisha takes up the cloak of his mentor, following his calling to bring God’s words to an idolatrous Israel.

We too hold the promises of God when we pursue lifelong obedience to the Lord: promises of blessing, God’s presence, and fruitfulness for the kingdom when we stay in step with the Spirit and persevere.

God promises that endurance in obedience is never wasted: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Heb. 10:36). And as James reminds us, *“Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (Jam. 1:12).

May God give us the grace to persevere, wherever we find ourselves today.

(Volleyball and basketball tournaments, breakfast prep, winter, book review, teaching at our women’s hobby retreat, time at the cabin with friends, and hot chocolate with a straw)

📝 In Writing

(Nothing brand new this week)

📚 On My Shelf

For our ladies Bible study we are looking at the life of Elijah, so I've been going through this commentary for added prep and reading.
I started reading How to Stay Married, but couldn't keep going through it. It's written by a comedian, some of the humour is a bit much and the story seemed to drag on, more focused on the humour than the reconciliation part, IMO. So I dropped it (which I don't do often) and picked up Married For God instead.
I finished reading Stop Loving the World and still working through CS Lewis' The Four Loves
Also excited to start my friend Cara’s upcoming book The Pursuit of Holy Leisure!!