Are we Listening?

When I was growing up and attending the local Methodist chapel we seemed to spend more time in studying the Old Testament rather than the New. Even now I find myself drawn to the stories of the developing Israelites and their covenant with God.

In particular I have been reading part of the books of Samuel and it is apparent that people in those times turned their back towards God and ignored Him and His covenant. For this they were severely punished. Not even his priest Eli was spared for when his sons Hophni and Phinehas sinned against the Lord they were killed in battle and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. (1 Sam. Ch. 4 on.)

Yet at this same time we have the young boy, Samuel, who had been given to the service of the Lord by his mother, Hannah. Samuel was called by the Lord three times and each time he ran to Eli thinking that it was him who called. Eli eventually realised that it was God calling the boy and instructed him to reply “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening”. (1 Sam. Ch.3)

I wonder if we are the same. Do we choose to ignore or do we just misunderstand what God is asking us to do?

Perhaps on this Father’s Day when we each remember our own father we would be well to give praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father and ask him to speak to us as he did to Samuel. We will never be as great or as powerful as Samuel but we can each be faithful and try to do what we can to grow the Church.

God Bless
John