Untitled

We learn from Samuel, that a willingness to obey is an important part of being receptive to God's voice: “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” A servant hears with the intention of obeying what his master tells him.

Samuel became both a great leader to the Israelites and a prophet of God. The first leadership role Samuel illustrates is the most foundational and clearly dictates his actions throughout. He maintained a direct connection with God, stalwartly faithful to all that God instructed. The lesson Samuel taught by God was that they must listen carefully when God speaks, because he communicate. Samuel understood and listened to what God was telling him. God patiently calls us, too. God calls us to listen to him and understand what he wants us to do.

Samuel spent his whole life serving God. Only fear the LORD [with awe and profound reverence] and serve in truth; serve Him faithfully with all your heart. What does it mean to serve God with all your heart? It means that we give everything that we have got. God has got our full attention. He becomes the focus of our lives. From the seat or center of our secret thoughts and emotions we make our focal point God.

Romans 12 encourages us to be living sacrifices in view of the mercy we have received in Christ Jesus. We do this through renewing our minds to the truth of God's word, serving and blessing the body of Christ through our gifts and above all by loving and being devoted to one another. Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality. Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted by God’s unmerited favor]. Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.