Speak, Lord, For Your Servant Hears
Ponder: What does it mean to “hear” God?
Scripture: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Do you have trouble figuring out who is on the other end of the phone line? What if God called and you didn’t recognize Him? In a way, that’s what happened to Samuel. God called (not by phone!), but Samuel thought it was Eli. Eli had to tell the boy how to answer God’s call: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9, 10). We parents should help our children to “hear” God’s call through the gospel, and know how to answer it through faith and obedience.
Once Samuel knew who was calling him and how to respond, he was true to his pledge to hear (heed, obey). He didn’t just *say* “Your servant hears” – he meant it. God gave young Samuel a hard message: Eli’s sons were corrupt, and Eli had not restrained them. God was more than a little fed up. Terrible judgment would come upon Eli and his house. There was no remedy; not even sacrifice would atone (1 Samuel 3:11-14). Though Samuel was afraid, he made known what God had said (vv. 15-18).
Like Samuel, we must obey God, not merely *say* that we will. In Jesus’ parable, one son *said* he would obey his father, but he didn’t; the other son said he would not obey, but then repented and did his father’s will (Matthew 21:28-32). Just saying is not equal to doing!
Even when the task takes us outside of our comfort zone, we are responsible to do as our Lord directs, and to do it promptly with our full strength. Prosperity and freedom have cursed us with the attitude that we don’t have to do anything unless it suits us. By contrast, Samuel confessed that he was the Lord’s servant. True servants don’t pick and choose which of the Master’s commands to obey.
Jesus pointed out the inconsistency of *calling* Him “Lord” while not doing what He said (Luke 6:46). Can you honestly say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears”?
Song: “Trust and Obey”
Prayer: Gracious Father, we praise and thank You for speaking to us through Your holy word. Please forgive us for our failure to hear and obey. Help us to do better. Through Jesus we pray, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)