Daily Reading
Daily Thought
“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men”–God’s Word speaks bluntly–“they did not know the Lord” (1Samuel 2:12). A terrible resume for priests, and Hophni and Phinehas did terrible things for which they both would die on the same day and be replaced by “a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind” (1Samuel 2:35). God raises up this faithful priest, Samuel, in the next chapter.
Chapter 3 begins, “the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision” (v 1); and ends, “and the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (v 21). The Hebrew reads literally, “the Lord appeared increasingly.” There is movement in Israel; God is beginning to visit again. What prompted this is found in the verses between 1 and 21–“Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (v 19). Samuel, yet a boy, displays a heart for God’s Word. He listens for it, he receives it, and he faithfully and fully passes it along to others. “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord” (v 20).
Daily Prayer
Eternal God, You have made me a temple of Your Spirit. You live in me! I pray my words, my actions, my every thought reflect Your character so fully that Your kingdom is made evident to the world, that You are praised because others glimpse heaven. Let not a Word you speak to me fall to the ground.
By Your grace and Your goodness, by Your righteousness and the Holy Spirit who indwells me, may I be filled with Your love. May I listen to Your words, know Your thoughts, follow Your heart, because hearing without doing is not listening. And so in my doing what You say, may others hear Your voice, think your thoughts, and give you their heart.
Amen
Daily Question
How can you best make God’s Word known by the way you live?