June 7, 2018 Thursday

“Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”” (1 Samuel 3:1-10 NKJV)

            It seems many desire to hear God’s call on their lives. Several books I know of have been written trying to guide people to truly hear God’s voice. It is very easy for people to say be still and know He is God, but many cannot teach being close to God because they have not themselves. There is a basic truth in life that you cannot share what you do not have.

            God spoke to Samuel when he was a young boy and Samuel ran to Eli who was the person he looked up to as his spiritual leader. In the middle of the night God called to Samuel and perhaps that was one of the few times Samuel was quiet enough to hear. We can get so busy being religious that we fail to hear and to have a relationship with God.

            Just like Samuel we must be still and rest so we can hear the voice of God. It can also be helpful to have in our life an Eli who will perceive and help us to see what God is doing in our lives. An Eli is someone who is there with you and helps you discover God’s call on your life.

            How do you respond to God’s call? Though that is not dealt with in this passage we can see it as Samuel rose up from bed after hearing God’s voice even when he didn’t know who it was. And when Samuel realized it was God and his response is amazing in his expectation God will speak and his willingness to listen and act.

            Rather than sitting and complaining God doesn’t speak to you be like Samuel who drew near to God by being in the Temple, being a part of worship and being guided by someone who knows God. God is always with those who are hurting and with those worshiping and that is exactly where you need to be to hear God.

            Do you really want to hear God? Are you afraid to hear God’s voice? Are you afraid to hear God’s call? Are you willing to be still and experience God’s voice and call?