Loving God who provides daily bread, bless and grant to this dear reader the bread of life; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from 1 Samuel 3: 1 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. 2 One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad - he could hardly see). 3 It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested. 4 Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!" 5 Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did. 6 God called again, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, "I heard you call. Here I am." 7 (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.) 8 God called again, "Samuel!" - the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, "Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am." 9 So Eli directed Samuel, "Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, 'Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'" Samuel returned to his bed. 10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." 11 God said to Samuel, "Listen carefully. I'm getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. 12 The time has come for me to bring down on Eli's family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. 13 I'm letting him know that the time's up. I'm bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God's name and God's place, and he did nothing to stop them. 14 This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli's family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering." 15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But then Eli summoned Samuel: "Samuel, my son!" Samuel came running: "Yes? What can I do for you?" 17 "What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don't suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you." 18 So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing. Eli said, "He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best." 19 Samuel grew up. God was with him, and Samuel's prophetic record was flawless. 20 Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing - a true prophet of God. (The Message).
If you made a New Year's Resolution, from whom did it come? From you or from God? Did God tell you to lose weight or stop spending so much, or was that you? The tasks that you do, same question: you or God? The career or work path you took for your life, was it your desire and dream or was it God's? Today's passage deals with one of the most known call stories in the Bible, God calling the boy Samuel to be God's prophet. Samuel's whole life story to this point in his young life is very interesting and can be found in the two chapters prior to this one. Samuel's mom was a devout woman and she promised Samuel to the Lord. At an early age she turned him over to the care of Eli, and it was while under that care that this call from God comes to Samuel.
When God calls we have a choice, but our first choice should always be to listen. As God called Samuel, Samuel replied he was ready to listen. God explained to Samuel the purpose of that call. Our call may not come as crystal clear as Samuel's though I believe Samuel wasn't quite ready to hear a judgment pronounced on Eli and his family, but he heard it and delivered it as told. Our call may take some time to form and become doable, but we should keep in mind that God is with us and will help us in whatever God has called us to do or be. Whatever the task, it matters to God and to the person, person or situation to which we are called to serve.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak, for I am listening. Help me to hear what it is You would have me hear. If this is a call for new ministry or new service, so be it, but be with me. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
