1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NIV)
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple [a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
It must have been strange for young Samuel. To have a voice from on high speak to him when he had not yet come to know God. He was a young boy and he did the only logical thing he could think of, he went to check on Eli. I can imagine a young Samuel crawling back in bed each time, a bit scared, pulling the covers over his head, peaking around for the source of this voice. I can hear his unsteady voice finally stammering out, "Here I am Lord. You called me."
Often times we are a lot like Samuel. When we feel called by God we cower under the spiritual covers or seek out something, or someone, more tangible. Why? Because we are afraid. Unlike Samuel, as Christians we know the Lord and we know that often what he calls us to do is to step out of our comfort zone. Humans don't like to do that. We like to stay wrapped in the warm security of the blankets, we don't want to place our bare feet out on the cold linoleum of life.
Like Samuel, we must open ourselves up and say yes Lord, you called me. We need to be willing to step out of the warm covers and venture into the cold kitchen of life. Jesus told his disciples that he would make them fishers of men. If we wish to call ourselves Christians, if we wish to be disciples and believers we must take up the torch. We must venture to where the lost can be found, we must be open to obeying God's will when it is contradictory to that of the world and against our own desires. We must say yes Lord, your servant is here. What would you have me do?
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for being a God who listens to the prayers of a sinner like me. Father I praise your holy name and recognize that without you I have no purpose, no drive, no reason for being. I ask, Lord, that you guide my heart . I pray that You will help me to discern what Your will for my life is and what path You would have me travel. Lord give me the strength to listen and follow Your plan and not my own. I ask that You mold me, that You use me to further the cause of Your kingdom, that my life might be a worthy sacrifice unto You. Forgive me the trespasses I have committed against my fellow man this day and those I have committed against You, Father. Help me, please, to be a better person tomorrow than I was today. To You be all glory, honor and praise. Amen
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