Missionary Renegade: Daily Scripture Email "Your Servant Is Listening" - Monday, 27 July 2015 from Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida, United States

Monday, July 27, 2015

Daily Scripture Email "Your Servant Is Listening" - Monday, 27 July 2015 from Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida, United States

Worship: Sundays at 8:15 am | 9:40 am | 11:00 am, Wednesdays at 6:35 pm
"Your servant is listening"
Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:4-10, CEB)
Three times! God called to Samuel three times and each time Samuel runs to Eli the priest saying, "I'm here." In his youthful innocence, Samuel knowsof the Lord but does not yet know the Lord. When Samuel runs to Eli for the third time, Eli discerns that the Lord is calling Samuel and instructs his young student how to respond when God comes calling again.
There is much to tell about Samuel and his calling as a prophet, but one thing that this story serves to remind us is how so often we need community to hear a divine word and to discern God's will. This reminds me of the song that is prayerfully sung by Walk to Emmaus communities to open hearts and minds to God's Word before each talk is given. May it be our prayer today.
Speak, Lord, I'm listening.
Plant your Word down deep in me.
Speak, Lord, I'm listening.
Please show me the way.
Grace and peace,
Aaron

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