Week 12: Here I am
Weekly Reading:
Judges 18 - I Samuel 9
Opening Prayer
Father God,
You are all-powerful, all holy and mighty. You, Father, are the source of life and peace. I know that I get distracted by the day-to-day, and I struggle to find time alone with You. I want to respond to Your call, but sometimes the day's needs are so loud in my ear that all I hear is my "to do" list on loop. Father, give me the courage to stop thinking of what I should do to respond with what I need to do, which is be at Your feet.
Amen
Study
"Here I am."
Samuel replies and runs to Eli, who was his master at the time. Eli dismissed Samuel and told him to go back to bed. Three times this happens where Samuel hears his name and runs to Eli ready, saying, "Here I am."
Listening
Acknowledging
Running
Ready
Even as a young child, Samuel was ready to do what God had instructed him to do.
I Samuel 3:1, we see that messages from the Lord were rare. In this, Eli did not immediately understand that Samuel was hearing God. After the third time, Eli realized and told Samuel to answer God.
Samuel chose to say yes, yes to God. In his saying yes, answering God, God entrusted Samuel with a very grown-up message: God would remove Eli and his sons from being forgiven by sacrifices and offerings (I Samuel 3:11-14).
Saying yes to God is not easy, no doubt. We are faced with so many distractions in our world, and saying yes often means saying no to what we desire in our flesh
Samuel was a young boy put in a very adult situation, knowing that God would carry out his threats against Eli and Eli's sons. Samuel stayed in bed until morning contemplating God's words, probably too scared to move. Again, he was obedient to Eli, opening the tabernacle doors as usual (I Samuel 3:15).
Samuel must have dreaded seeing Eli, knowing that the aging man would be interested in what God had to say. However, when Eli called, Samuel again said, "Here I am" (I Samuel 3:16). And, still obedient, Samuel told Eli what God had said in total (I Samuel 3:18).
As a young child, Samuel was obedient to God by saying yes to God, "Here I am."
We see other people also being obedient to God's calling in their lives as well.
Ruth was obedient to her duty as a daughter-in-law, married into a family religion not her own, giving up her family for Naomi's, marrying into her husband's family to continue the line. By saying yes to God's will in her life, she was rewarded through the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Esther said yes to risking her life to save her people
David said yes to the call to defeat Goliath in the name of God.
Daniel said yes to keep God's commands in the face of danger.
Mary and Martha offered the hospitality of others to glorify Christ Jesus.
The disciples gave up their possessions and jobs to follow Jesus Christ.
Samuel said yes to God and was gifted with the gift of prophecy (I Samuel 3:20-21).
What is God asking of you today?
Closing Prayer
Father God,
I know that I have a purpose in You. Sometimes my purpose is to be a loving daughter, sometimes a part of the church family, a friend. Father, in all of the purposes You have designed for me, help me always live and serve for Your glory. I want to be still so that I can hear Your call and respond, "Here I am," as Samuel did. Father, You are my strength and my purpose. I love you, Father.
Amen
Homework
What do you feel God is asking of you today?
Why do you feel this?
What steps can you take to say yes to God?
