1The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” 15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. (1 Samuel 3)
Theme: If not You, then Who?
Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past three days. There is much to reflect on and apply to our lives. As we have emphasized in prior years our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative. If you didn’t have a chance to catch up on comments during the week, today is a good day to get caught up.
Suggestion
How inclined are you to respond to God like Samuel, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”?
February 20, 2021 at 6:20 am
Responding to God like Samuel takes faith, and knowing God will prepare us to carry out whatever He asks of us. Knowing this, I am very much inclined to respond to God like Samuel. The human side of me might allow fear to seep in and cause hesitation, but I would hope I’d “get it together” and get what God has asked me to do, done.
We should all be inclined to respond to God like Samuel.
February 20, 2021 at 8:44 am
I am very inclined to respond to God like Samuel responded and subsequently acted out. It is unwise to clearly hear the voice of God and then choose to not listen to its directives. However, there are times when we do not know if a prompting is from God, oneself or family who care deeply for us.
February 20, 2021 at 10:29 am
I think I am very inclined to respond as Samuel did because I believe I have done so in the past.
Short story.
Early in my Christian life I was trying to be a good Christian – I thought that mean’t I needed to be a shy and retiring Christian woman, soft spoken and not offending anyone. Because I have a strong personality this was difficult for me to achieve and I struggled to be the nice Christian woman I was trying to be. So I went to God fervently asking him to transform my personality. I was really going at, on my knees, praying, beseeching, pleading “Please God help me be nice!” – then suddenly in the midst of my praying – a voice broke through as,clear as day – “Stay away from sexual immorality and I will hear you.” The very next day I “dumped” my non believing boyfriend so there will be no chance I will be sexually immoral. And the rest as they say is history!
February 20, 2021 at 2:42 pm
“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”
February 20, 2021 at 8:01 pm
If I were to hear God speak to me I would have no choice in the matter but to be his servant.
I think anyone would given the same situation.
The problem is it does not happen to the majority of people.
Never has God spoken to me like that.
February 20, 2021 at 10:34 pm
I think if one’s heart is not tuned with God, it’s difficult to hear his calling. Every believer is called to serve God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us discern that call.
February 22, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Like Samuel, I am very inclined, however, at times it is sometimes difficult to deliver the message if it is “unfavorable” so He speaks a little louder, maybe because He knows I do not like loudness!
This humorous illustration may underscore how some of us, including me, sometimes respond —totally opposite to others.
Many years ago after reading to our two sons the Bible story about God calling Samuel, I asked our younger son, then about 4 years old, ” Daniel, did God ever call you yet?” He replied, ” I think so but I didn’t hear Him!” Smiling, I replied, “How? How could that be?” Innocently, he looked up at me and said, “Maybe He didn’t say it loud enough!” That warmed us with laughter in the cold Chicago winter but it was a serious message. For some of us God has to say it loud enough.