By Zoe Cannon, Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:9)
When you surrender to Christ, the longing for peace is rewarded by listening for the voice of God. The Old Testament account of Eli and Samuel tells us that obedience plays a role in hearing God speak. Young Samuel is sleeping near the Ark of the Covenant and awakens to a voice calling his name. It was rare to hear the voice of God in those days, and Samuel assumes it is his mentor, Eli. The Lord warns Samuel of a dramatic change coming in the history of Israel.
Samuel is told of the judgement awaiting Eli’s family and wants to spare him the news. Knowing he failed to restrain his sons from sins against God, Eli realizes the guilt of his house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes” (1 Samuel 3:17).
Absolute truth is often difficult to understand and speaking it to those you love is especially challenging. Scripture provides insightful teachings to help us avoid offending God and upsetting one another. When society refuses to hold people accountable for their actions, and offending God is overlooked, similar to Eli’s family… judgement will come.
A conversation between the Archangel Gabriel and Mary in the New Testament reminds us that she listened to the voice of God with the virtue of faith. Her faith allowed her to accept God’s will and give life to a savior for the world. Her desire to please God changed everything!
How do you articulate the desires of your heart? The ability to share sincere thoughts with others is important in a civilized society. We connect with people by forming relationships that are genuine, mutual and meaningful. We were created in the image of God to be social beings who work together to build up his kingdom with our individual gifts. By communicating through text messages and social media apps, we may lose a vital connection… authentic, human, face to face conversation.
Two of our granddaughters participated in a basketball camp, and they each brought home a certificate. The 11-year-old received a “Hot Shot” award for the most baskets made. This was not a surprise because she works hard practicing every day. The seven-year-old received the “Talk” award. If you knew this little one you would agree .….this is typical. She is a vocal leader and I love her spirit; she has a gift of communicating in a positive way. The certificate read: “ Talking is the glue that holds a team together. When players communicate, they help each other succeed, avoid mistakes and play with confidence. Great teams don’t just play together… they talk together.” This organized camp experience created valuable life lessons by encouraging good communication and team building together.
Inspiration from the Holy Spirit will help us surrender to God’s will. His grace provides the peace we long to have in our life. Our younger generation needs to be reminded that our best human connection is the same as our relationship with God… close and personal. Speak Lord, your servants are listening! Amen.