Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Listening To God's Voice” – Saturday, 6 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-14

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Listening To God's Voice” – Saturday, 6 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: “Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen”
1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.
4-5 Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.
6-7 God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)
8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.
10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”
11-14 God said to Samuel, “Listen carefully. I’m getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. The time has come for me to bring down on Eli’s family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. I’m letting him know that the time’s up. I’m bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God’s name and God’s place, and he did nothing to stop them. This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli’s family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering.”
“Listening To God's Voice” by William A. Roberts

How do we recognize the voice of God? That is the key question in this passage. Does God still speak to His people? If so, how?
Perhaps our day is like that of Eli and Samuel, in which the voice of the Lord was rarely heard and God seemed silent. However, could it be that people were just not listening to Him?
We may not be able to speak knowingly about that point in history, but I suspect that God often speaks to His people in our day. Sometimes as we listen for His voice, we wonder if He will ever answer. God does speak to those who listen for Him, though, and He comes to those who wait for Him.
The Gospel of John informs this matter: Jesus came to His own people, and His own people did not recognize Him because they were not looking for Him (John 1:10-11). If they had, they would have found Him.

Still, the only proper response to the Lord when He does speak is, “Lord, I’m your servant, and I am listening.” If we are listening for Him, we will hear Him.

Hymn for Today:

"Jesus Calls Us" by Cecil F. Alexander
1. Jesus calls us o'er the tumult 
of our life's wild, restless sea; 
day by day his sweet voice soundeth, 
saying, "Christian, follow me!" 
2. As of old the apostles heard it 
by the Galilean lake, 
turned from home and toil and kindred, 
leaving all for Jesus' sake. 
3. Jesus calls us from the worship 
of the vain world's golden store, 
from each idol that would keep us, 
saying, "Christian, love me more!" 
4. In our joys and in our sorrows, 
days of toil and hours of ease, 
still he calls, in cares and pleasures, 
"Christian, love me more than these!" 
5. Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, 
Savior, may we hear thy call, 
give our hearts to thine obedience, 
serve and love thee best of all. 

Thought for Today:

“Jesus answered, “I told you, but you don’t believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don’t believe because you’re not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.””(John 10:25-30).
Prayer Needs:
For developing Christian leaders in Costa Rica.
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