Are we listening?
by Ruth Olsen
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In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not too many visions (1 Samuel 3:1b).
Read 1 Samuel 3:1–21
A loving father loves talking with his children. Do you notice when your Heavenly Father is trying to get your attention? Do you hear him speaking to you through his word, through people or a song, in your circumstances? Are you expecting to hear from him? If not, why not?
Eli’s failure to recognise at once that the Lord had called Samuel may be an indication of his own unfamiliarity with the Lord.
But since then, God has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1,2), and Father and Son have sent the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor, to teach us all things and to remind us of what Jesus has said (John 14:25,26).
The Spirit is given to all followers of Jesus, irrespective of sex, age and rank (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21). He will enable us to prophesy, receive dreams and visions from God, and much more. But are we taking notice? Are we listening?
Yesterday, we saw the contrasting attitudes of Eli’s sons, who followed the ways of the world and did as they pleased. Whereas Samuel was submitted to those who gave him covering, and thereby was submitted to the Lord. And now, when Samuel listened to the Lord, he heard the Lord’s perspective on things. Samuel was understandably afraid to tell Eli what he had heard, but Eli wisely gave Samuel no option.
This chapter concludes with, ‘The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up … The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word’ (verses 19,21).
One person available to the Lord can make a big difference. Likewise with the prayers of a mother!
Are you available to the Lord for his purposes? For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Father, here I am. I welcome your working in me and through me, for Jesus’ sake. I desire to honour him in all that I am and do. Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
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