In my Old Testament reading, I came across an interesting story. In fact, it’s a somewhat strange story that makes you wonder why it’s there. You may want to read it for yourself. It’s in 2 Kings 13:20-21.

The prophet Elisha dies and is buried. Some time after that, a group of Israelites was taking a dead friend to bury him. Suddenly, a raiding party from Moab appeared, and the Israelites knew they had to get out of there, and fast. They looked for a place to drop their dead friend, and they tossed him into Elisha’s grave so they could escape the Moabite raiders.

The Bible account tells us that as soon as the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up. Alive! End of story.

Don’t you wonder what his friends thought when this formerly dead man showed up in town? I’m sure it raised a lot of questions.

When I read passages like this, I usually ask the Lord, “Why is this in the Bible? What is its purpose for me today?” And God’s Spirit led me to this thought.

The influence of a man of God continues, even after he dies.

Elisha was a godly man. The Lord used His prophet to perform many miraculous acts. But this is beyond our imagination. Dr. Tony Evans explained it this way:

“The power of Elisha didn’t cease at his death. That’s because the power he’d wielded in life was not his own.”

As a Christian and as a leader, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around you. That’s called influence. Yet our influence must be grounded in the power of God, not in our own. It is His power and His righteousness that make the difference, not our own.

The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 12:26 NASB

Christian leaders must recognize that their only true power comes from the Lord. James reminds us of this when he writes:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:17 NASB

Do you want a godly influence that is a blessing today and endures beyond you? Live for Christ in His power. Recognize where our wisdom and strength come from—the Lord. Then, purpose in your heart to live in a way that does not diminish your potential influence by relying on your own strength.

God’s best,