Good day dear friends. I have not heard an update on Mozambique and the 7.5 earthqucke they suffered yesterday. It hit in an area close to Chicuque. Please continue in prayer for them.
We continue our study of being prepared for serving the Lord. Here is our study guide:
Thursday: Read 1 Samuel 3:1-19. This is the story of a young boy dedicated to God by his parents. This passage deals with his first days in the service of God. God calls him during the night, but the key verse is 19 where we read just how the young boy received the word of God. Are you receiving God in the same way? Is God speaking to you in ways that can bring you a blessing?
Here is that text:
1 Samuel 3:3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under E'li. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time E'li, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 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. 4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to E'li, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to E'li, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to E'li, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then E'li perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore E'li said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against E'li all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of E'li that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." 15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to E'li. 16 But E'li called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." 17 E'li said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him." 19 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
This is the story of Samuel and his dedication to God by his mother and his response to God. God calls him into service at a young age, though at first Samuel did not know it was God. God spoke to Samuel and the young man thought it was the prophet Eli calling him. It was the prophet Eli who realized that it might be God calling him so he instructed the boy how to answer.
Are you dedicated to God? Are you being instructed through your worship or deovtional reading to respond to God's call upon your life? One of the blessings in my life has been to serve on the board of ordained ministry for two conferences. It's been wonderful times and difficult times, but I rejoice with those who can clearly and wonderfully articulate their call into ministry. It's awesome to hear how God uses these candidates to go into tiny churches and then double their worship attendance and add numbers to the Sunday school rolls. Preparation is wonderful and it becomes awesome when one responds with faith to God's leading.
PRAYER: Come Lord God and prepare me. Come Lord God and use me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
e.v.
