Listen

Now the boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. The Lord’s word was rare at that time, and visions weren’t widely known. One day Eli, whose eyes had grown so weak he was unable to see, was lying down in his room. God’s lamp hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was lying down in the Lord’s temple, where God’s chest was.

The Lord called to Samuel. “I’m here,” he said.

Samuel hurried to Eli and said, “I’m here. You called me?”

“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go lie down.” So he did.

Again the Lord called Samuel, so Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “I’m here. You called me?”

“I didn’t call, my son,” Eli replied. “Go and lie down.”

1 Samuel 3:1-6

Think

All of us have experienced some type of training program. Some of us train for sporting events, while others train for music or dance competitions. In the job arena, new employees undergo a training period. Part of the success in sports, music, dance, or jobs relates to how well the trainee listens to the coach, leader, or supervisor.

In today’s passage, we meet Samuel who is in training for ministry. Samuel was dedicated at a young age by his mother to serve under the priest Eli at the temple in Shiloh. So when Samuel hears his name being called, he assumes that it is Eli’s voice. Attentively, Samuel responds, “I’m here. You called me?” Samuel is prompt in both word and action to serve the leader who is training him in ministry.

As Christians, we might think of our spiritual journey as a training period. We train by reading God’s word, praying, and exhibiting Christ-like qualities of gentleness, fairness, and kindness. This week, we might focus on attentiveness to God’s voice.

Gayle Taylor

Question to Ponder:

What would it look like if you thought about God as your coach on your spiritual journey?

Pray

Loving Lord,

You desire the best for me and from me.

One of my biggest distractions from spending time with you is…

Help me to devote not only more time with you, but more attentive time with you, so that I can become the person you would have me to be.

Amen.

Go

Take with you a word of encouragement,

walking confidently into your day.

Remember that the Lord is as close as the touch of a hand,

protecting you, a precious vessel of clay.