RTW 2022

Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
1 Kings 18:21

We live in a day and age that we simply can’t afford to spiritually hobble.

Pâsach: (paw-sakh’): to limp

Limp:

• to walk with a labored, jerky movement, as lame; physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty:

Hobble:

• to walk lamely; limp.
• to proceed irregularly and haltingly:
• to cause to limp: His tight shoes hobbled him.
• to fasten together the legs of (a horse, mule, etc.) by short lengths of rope to prevent free motion.
• to impede; hamper the progress of.

Elijah tells the people make a choice, God (Yahweh) or Baal.

We pretty much have a lukewarm God-follower situation going on here. God tells us about lukewarm faith.

To the church in Laodicea

I know you well—you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other! But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Revelation 3:15-16 (TLB)

Notable verses about spiritual hobbling

• And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
  Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
• No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
  Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
• Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
  1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
• Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
  Colossians 3:23-24

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After our greatest display of courageous faith, its possible to flee in fear.

Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1 Kings 19:3 (ESV)

“Elijah failed in the very point at which he was strongest, and that is where most men fail. In Scripture, it is the wisest man who proves himself to be the greatest fool; just as the meekest man, Moses, spoke hasty and bitter words. Abraham failed in his faith, and Job in his patience; so, he who was the most courageous of all men, fled from an angry woman.” – Charles Spurgeon

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Don’t hobble, Wendy.