A Series on God’s Call to Ministry
1 Samuel 3:1-10
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
[Preface: How do you know what your calling
in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly,
almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting
missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people
group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to
ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]
Have you ever been accused of selective hearing?
I have. My wife accuses me more often than I care
to admit. Of course, I like to think of it as being extremely focused. The
classic example is when she starts talking to me in the bedroom and then walks
down the hall into the kitchen. And I’m accused of selective hearing!
There can be a lot
of reasons that people don’t hear or understand a message. For one thing, we’re
bombarded every day with so many messages that there’s no way to comprehend
them all. But it can also have to do with not listening well, feeling insecure
or lacking some foundational knowledge. The list is endless.
8 So
the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and
went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was
the Lord who was calling the boy. NLT
It took three
times for the LORD to call Samuel’s name before Eli realized who it was that
was speaking to him. On the first two attempts, Samuel and Eli had their own personal
reasons for not hearing the LORD.
For one thing,
Samuel was just a boy so he probably lacked the maturity to recognize who was
calling him. As for Eli, he had been a priest for decades, but had shown a lack
of spiritual discernment in dealing with his rebellious sons. Eli was
practically blind physically; maybe he was blind spiritually too.
Are you guilty of selective hearing when it comes to recognizing the LORD?
What drowns out his
voice for you? Is it being constantly busy with no quiet time to reflect and
rest in His presence? Or maybe it’s an unwillingness to submit or surrender to
His will. Is it possible that it’s unrepentant sin in your life?
10 The Lord came
and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel
said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” NIV
Like Samuel, may
we be ready to hear the LORD with a servant’s heart, listening intently for His
voice.
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