2 Kings 2:1-12
1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."
4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it."
6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on.
7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours--otherwise not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven. He told Elisha, ‘stay here, the Lord send me to Bethel’. ‘As surely as the Lord lives and you live, I will not leave you,’ said Elisha. Elisha did not want to leave his master Elijah.

When the prophets of Bethel and Jerricho came to and told Elisha about the departure of Elijah, he told them not to talk about that. He knew what was going to happen.

Dear brothers and sisters, what we see here is an amazing relationship of discipleship. Elisha wanted to be where his master Elijah was. Especially on this day, the most important day in his master’s life, he definitely wanted to be together with him. He even warned those prophets who talked about Elijah to keep quiet.

In this era of everyone makes an opinion about everything, mostly irresponsible comments, how do we respond to those statements. Sometimes it is about the leaders of the church or other disciples or about church or even about Jesus himself. When people/others make irresponsible comments, do we join with them and add our own flavour to it? When you see other disciples go through different situations in their life, would you approach those situations with faith? Would you tell the irresponsible ‘company of prophets’ to keep quiet?

Let us give our best make our relationship with the ones who lead us in the Lord, like the one between Elijah and Elisha. Let us make discipling relationships a blessing, using every opportunity to become mature and complete, so that we will be able to join with Him when Jesus appear again to take us with him to heaven.

Prayer idea

Have you ever hurt anybody’s faith with a negative talk? Please pray with that person and make the relationship straight.