God Calls Us

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said, “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep.

Again, the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said.  “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son.  Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.

The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.  You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”

When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. (1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19)

Are we Samuel’s or Samantha’s?  Do we hear the LORD’s call that wakes us from our sleep to do God’s will?  Or, do we hear someone else’s call and believe it is from God?  Many of us believe lies and think of them as true and consistent with God’s call and will.  Better we should remain asleep.

Let’s all rise from our slumber to cry out, “Here I am God!  I am listening!  You are the truth, and I will speak it!”

Deacon David Pierce