And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for Thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. (1 Sam. 3:8-12)
Eli and his sons had strayed from the Law and were guilty of betraying their office before the Lord. God called Samuel who would be a prophet and a priest in service to God and told him of all that He was going to do. Though Samuel feared to tell Eli because of the nature of the message, he feared the Lord more, and told Eli all that the Lord had told him. Eli praised God even in the judgment which was upon him as he knew that the Judge of all the earth did and would do right and that the punishment to come was just. Samuel was established in the land as a prophet of God with the Word of the Lord for God was with him.
God is always at work and His people hear His voice, from the Spirit of God who speaks to us and from His Word which reveals Him to us. What He says in the prayer closet will never contradict who He is and what He has already revealed in the Word of God. We know that He has done and will do right and continues to work and to will in us of His good pleasure. When He calls us to serve or when He is starting a ministry or ending a program, we should be swift to listen and obey, and get in on what God is already doing, not for our glory but for His. His continued work in those who have repented of their sins and been born again by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work conforms us to the image of His dear Son and draws us closer to Him who is our Creator, Redeemer, and King. We are called to reach the lost through the Word of God, teach the nations all commandments from the Word of God, and preach with all longsuffering and doctrine all the Word of God until all have heard and He is done with us.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet