“But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed” (II Kings 6:5).

The place where the sons of the prophets were dwelling was now too small to house everyone. Thus, they came upon the plan to go to the river Jordan, cut every man a beam and build. Elisha agreed, and the work began.

All was apparently going smoothly until one man had his axe head fly off the handle into the river. Elisha, under God’s power, “cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim” (II Kings 6:6).

There seems today to be many of God’s servants who have lost the axe head; that is, the cutting edge of God’s word in their personal lives and public ministries, but who are either unaware of it, or unwilling to admit it. At least the servant, in this incident, recognized the problem and went immediately to the one who could solve it.

What are some of the options available to the Lord’s servants who have lost the power of God in their daily service for Christ? One is simply to quit the Lord’s work, give up and go into secular work. Another is to keep chopping and hope no one will notice the cutting edge of God’s power is no longer there. How many, who because of sin and defeat, are still trying to do God’s work, but in their hearts they know it is only a pretense?

The best option of all is to go to Christ and say, “Alas, Master!” Who will then undoubtedly ask, “Where fell it?” His desire is to have us put our finger on the problem area that caused us to lose our power and confess it. Confession and renewed faithfulness in studying and preaching God’s word will bring restoration and put the axe head back into our work again. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). NPS