In this passage we see what is potentially the greatest spiritual showdown in 1 Kings.  Two heavyweights duke it out in a winner takes all bout between the God of the Bible and the pagan gods Baal and Asherah.

Faith and obedience can sometimes stir up trouble, but the trouble is on the side of the faithless and the disobedient.

The fact that God is both transcendent and immanent is hard wrap one’s mind around. But if we don’t accept this paradox, that God is limitless in power and at the same time is intensely personal, then our understanding of God is too small.

It’s easy to look for spiritual shortcuts or hacks to get what we want from God. This temptation is nothing new, and only shortchanges God’s process. In Elijah’s life we see that the only way is the same old way, which is God’s way.

We can waste years and lifetimes trying to fill the God-shaped hole in our souls. Good things become god-things as we worship the work of our own hands. Only Christ can fill that void because as image-bearers, we were made for God alone.

Generational sin is only repeated when we chose to follow the footsteps of unfaithfulness, not the footsteps left by those who have been, or are being faithful.  It comes down to a choice.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but according to the Bible God looks at the heart. God’s desire is that our hearts would be fully devoted to Him in love, which is also the first commandment. But sin makes our hearts so very complicated.

Our earthy vision of jealousy almost always involves sin and thus the main teaching point. How can God be jealous? What is Holy Jealousy? What does it mean for us? Let’s dive in.

The nature of sin drives us to hide ourselves in shame from God and one another. But the antidote for sin and shame is relationship with God and community with one another. Jesus came promising life and truth that will set us free.

People often treat God and His Word as a nice addition to life and not the centerpiece of existence. But God is not a side-dish off the menu, and He demands and deserves our whole life in worship.