"I'm Not Going Out Like That"

Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, "Why stay here until we die? If we say, 'We'll go into the city'-the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die." 2 Kings 7:3-4

While reading the Holy writ the other day, I happened across a short story that is woven within a major story. It was the one where the four lepers were at a gate in Israel wrestling with making a major life decision. A famine has plagued the land over the years due to the kings participation in idolatry, which left the people and these four lepers anticipating certain death that was drawing near.

Surprisingly, the four unnamed men were determined not to let the famine dictate their lives. They still had charge over their plight, which somewhat lessoned the strength of the famine. They determined that staying where they were, where the famine was at its best, they would surely die. The better option for them was to take a risk... or shall I say they stepped out on faith. They decided to go in a direction that they had never gone before. They literally said to the famine "we are not going out like that!"

With all that is happening today in our economy, everyone... even the saints, have literally been making life decisions at the pump, in the food market, with retirement accounts, and I hate to say it but even in their tithes and offering. Everyone at one level or another has felt the effects of an economy that has turned upside down. Although the effects of the a down trodden economy has put a squeeze on our pockets and purses, as saints, we should not allow it to squeeze out our faith.

My encouragement to you today is to stay strong in the faith! Make a declaration that you are not going to let what is happening in the world change your perspective and perception on who God is and what He is more than capable of doing in your life. Keep the faith and watch God set you up for a major blessing.

The lepers left the gate and went to the Aramean camp. When they arrived at the camp they received the blessing of a life time. As they stepped out on faith God made provision prior to the lepers arriving at the camp. God always shows himself trustworthy when you exercise your faith. And if only we trust Him in seasons when we're challenged in our health, challenged in our relationships, and challenged in our finances we too will receive the same when we tell our famines that "we're not going out like that!"