2 Samuel 1:11-12 “Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

2 Kings 2:2b, 9 “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” …“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”

Sometimes the passing of the baton from one spiritual generation to the next does not always go smoothly. Sometimes the results are a tremendous blessing, and at other times it might signal the beginning of a long period of rebuilding. In the case of King David, he knew he would one day replace Saul. He knew Saul had fallen out of favor with the Lord for his constant neglect of the Lord’s instructions. And yet even when David had a chance to kill Saul (twice), he chose to allow God to determine the time when the baton would be passed. Elisha would not stop following Elijah. He knew the prophet was the “real deal” and such was his heart for God he would not relent until he inherited what Elijah had. But Elisha wanted to outpace Elijah. He wanted the ability to do even more, to go further, to accomplish even greater tasks for the Lord and so he asked that a double portion of Elijah’s blessing be his when Elijah passed the baton…or in this case, the mantle. David and Elisha were both “dynasty-minded”.  How about you? Are you prepared to receive the baton? Are you prepared to pass it on?

Pray: “Father God, only you know when your church will be finished. Only you know when the race will come to an end. Help me to be ready to either pass the baton or cross the finish line. Help me, I pray, to be ‘dynasty-minded’ and not overly focused on the here and now. Let my actions teach as loudly as my words. Let every generation from me onward rise up and call you blessed. In Jesus’ matchless name I ask it – Amen.”