Preparing our replacements and successors to be better than us without jealousy

Greetings!  2 Kings 2:9-15 (NIV version) reads “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.  “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise, it will not.”  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.  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 garment and tore it in two.  Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.  He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it.  “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked.  When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.  The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.”  And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.”

1 Samuel 18:5-9 (NIV version) reads “Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.  This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.  When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.  As they danced, they sang:  “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly.  “They have credited David with tens of thousands,”  he thought,  “but me with only thousands.  What more can he get but the kingdom?”  And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.”

Both Bible scriptures above are powerful and informative of the types of mentors we both should and should not seek to be.  Elijah was an awesome mentor granting his mentee Elisha’s request of a double portion of his (Elijah’s spirit) with of course the help of God/Jesus.  King Saul on the other hand had some deep insecurities and issues with his then servant the future King David getting more attention and shine than him.  In both cases the mentee’s who were the prophet Elisha and King David went further than there mentors which is how it should be.  When your mentees and successors goes further than you that is a good thing and speaks of us as mentors in how we have done for the most part.  We need to be intentional about training and equipping the next generation and those after us to do better by laying a solid foundation that they can build and expand on!

So with the above being mentioned let’s learn to put aside our insecurities and hang ups and equip those coming behind us to go even further! It’s a great reflection on us and shows the world 🌎 and others alike that the legacy and vision doesn’t just begin and stop with us.  It keeps on going and Lord willing going for the better!  We can and will do this together with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit!!  Let’s do this!  Peace ✌️ ☮️ 🕊 and love ❤️!!