January 16, 2018 Tuesday

“The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." 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. 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." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy. 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. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."” (1Samuel 3:1-10 NIV)

            The hymn Here I Am Lord always makes me think of this story of the Bible.  Do I listen to hear Gods call in my life?  When I hear God’s call does it change me or the way I live?

            In this story is one of the saddest verses in the Bible “In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.”  It is so sad that in a nation who was supposed to be the people of God few people even seemed to care!  So few even listened for God and heard what God wanted to say.

            But in my over 30 years as a pastor it always amazed me how few people in my congregations had actually read through the Bible!  I was astounded to discover people who had been Christians for decades had never read the Bible through!

            Can you imagine a doctor who never read medical texts?  What about a teacher who never studied their subject?  Would you like to go to court with a lawyer who had not read the law?  We would think this would be foolish!

            But we in the Church are even more foolish because we are treating eternal matters with less seriousness than the world does with temporary things.  Parents who do not want their children to spend time in worship or Bible study because it might impact their grades! Adults who don’t want to take time from their careers to go to worship, pray or study the Bible!

            Do not miss the amazing wonder of getting to know the eternal God and spending time with Him because of things that will rust and pass away!  As you open the Bible pray God will reveal himself to you!  Maybe that is why the last book of the Bible is Revelation?