Title: May I Connect You? / Topic: Helping Others

Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:3-10
3 …Samuel was lying down in the temple 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."

Observation: Samuel is a faithful young man with a pure heart and a desire to serve the Lord. But though he had a good heart, he did not have a personal relationship with God. All that he had learned about God was through Eli. His was a second-hand experience with God. He knew about God but he did not know God. Now the Lord want to change that and He speaks directly to Samuel for the first time. But Samuel does not recognize God's voice. Verse 7 is the key: "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him." Apparently he doesn't even know that God can speak directly to him. Because of this, he mistakes God's voice for the voice of Eli. It takes three tries, but Eli finally gets a clue and tells Samuel that this is the voice of God and instructs him how to respond.

Application: We have a job to do. There are people all around us that God wants to speak to. And likely He has already been speaking to them. But they don't know it's Him. These people can be in our family, among our friends, or just those we meet by "chance." But they have been hearing from God and don't know it. And we may not have picked up on it. I think that God is communicating with far more people than we can imagine. But just as Samuel needed Eli to give him the understanding of Who it was speaking to him and how to respond, they need you and me to help them gain a context so they can get the message. And it is imperative that they get the message because that is the prerequisite to their personal connection and ongoing relationship with God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to pay attention to those around us to give them thoughts that direct their attention to You and Your words. May we be more alert than Eli to recognize the times you are speaking to those around us and help them to hear and respond to You. Thank You for Your graciousness in reaching out to every person who needs Your voice.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen