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1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5and 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. 6The 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.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8The 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. 9Therefore 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.

 

In preparation for today’s devotion (written in mid-December), I did a quick search to discover what we celebrate on January 8th. Did you know that today is National Bubble Bath Day, National English Toffee Day, Earth’s Rotation Day, National Winter Skin Relief Day?

And the one “national” day that caught my attention was “National Career Coach Day.”

See, that is what is going on in our text from 1 Samuel. Eli, a priest and judge, was well into his “retirement” years and was coaching the prophet Samuel a young eager leader who would go on to become a judge in ancient Israel.

It’s a wonderful call story, in which the Lord was calling Samuel, but Samuel mistakes the call of the Lord for the voice of Eli. We have a wonderful, beloved hymn, “Here I Am, Lord….is it I Lord?” that is the basis of the call story of Samuel.

During this season of Epiphany, in which God is revealed to all the Earth, how do we know when the Lord is speaking to us, and when it is another voice? In a word – discernment. We must discern what the Lord is speaking into our life. One way to discern the call of the Lord is through mentors and spiritual coaches like Eli was to Samuel.

Who are those spiritual coaches and mentors that can help you discern the call of the Holy Spirit in your life? What is God trying to speak to you and are you able to be able to hear?

It’s so easy to overlook and miss out on God’s calling. Any yet, God continues to speak fresh to us each day. Thanks be to God!

Let us pray: God, like Samuel, I come to you to say, “Here I am.” Speak, Lord for your servant is listen. May I follow your path for my life this day. Bless me with your presence and guide me in my thoughts and actions. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Pastor Steve Cauley

pastorsteve@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: For people who are in a process of discerning God’s call for their life.

Alternative text: Acts 9:1-9, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43