I Samuel 3:1-41a
One of the significant details of the Samuel story found in 3:1 is that in those days the word of the Lord was rare and there were not many visions. Samuel had been an answer of prayer tohis mother, Hannah, who prayed for a son whom she vowed to dedicate to the Lord. She is often compared both to Elizabeth, (mother of John the Baptist) and Mary, (mother of Jesus.) Samuel now lives in the house of Eli, who was a priest. Eli, however, has shown great leniency to his sons and not required them to follow the law of the Lord. Three times Samuel hears someone calling his name and goes to Eli, thinking that he is calling, but he is not. Finally, Eli realizes that it is God calling and instructs Samuel to answer: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Vs. 7 tells us that Samuel did not yet know the Lord. He had not had his personal encounter with God. The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
When god calls Samuel again and Samuel answers, God reveals judgment on Eli’s household because he has not disciplined his sons. The next morning Eli asks Samuel what the Lord revealed to him and cautions him not to hold back anything. When Samuel shares the word of the Lord, Eli accepts it. As Samuel matures and enters his ministry, God blesses him as a prophet. People recognize that he is called and gifted as a prophet.
Reflecting on Samuel’s personal encounter with God and awareness of God’s claim upon his life, how did you become aware of God’s presence in your life and how did you become aware of gifts or ways God was at work in your life?
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Psalm 139 is a beautiful psalm that reminds us that God is always with us and always has been even before we were conceived. Vss. 1-6 especially remind us that God is so great that we cannot fathom the wisdom and vastness of God. Reflecting on the Samuel story of living in a time when God did not speak often, how does the psalmist seem to view God’s word and revelation?
John 1:43-51
After Jesus’ baptism, he began to move into ministry, which included calling disciples. According to this gospel, Andrew and Simon are first called, then Philip, who tells Nathaniel that they have found the one Moses wrote about. When Philip says the he is Jesus of Nazareth, Nathaniel scoffs and asks if anything good can come out of Nazareth? Nazareth was a much-belittled town in those days. The name was synonymous with “despised.” When Jesus approaches Nathaniel, he is amazed the Jesus is able to tell him things about himself that he could only have known by special powers. He affirms that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel. Jesus tells him there is much more to see and experience.
I Corinthians 6:12-20
Paul cautions the Corinthians that there are many things one can do, but they are not beneficial. He directly addresses prostitution. There was a large human trafficking industry in Corinth. Paul says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit so we should be careful how we live because our lives have been ought with the price of Christ’s life.
One of the significant details of the Samuel story found in 3:1 is that in those days the word of the Lord was rare and there were not many visions. Samuel had been an answer of prayer tohis mother, Hannah, who prayed for a son whom she vowed to dedicate to the Lord. She is often compared both to Elizabeth, (mother of John the Baptist) and Mary, (mother of Jesus.) Samuel now lives in the house of Eli, who was a priest. Eli, however, has shown great leniency to his sons and not required them to follow the law of the Lord. Three times Samuel hears someone calling his name and goes to Eli, thinking that he is calling, but he is not. Finally, Eli realizes that it is God calling and instructs Samuel to answer: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Vs. 7 tells us that Samuel did not yet know the Lord. He had not had his personal encounter with God. The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
When god calls Samuel again and Samuel answers, God reveals judgment on Eli’s household because he has not disciplined his sons. The next morning Eli asks Samuel what the Lord revealed to him and cautions him not to hold back anything. When Samuel shares the word of the Lord, Eli accepts it. As Samuel matures and enters his ministry, God blesses him as a prophet. People recognize that he is called and gifted as a prophet.
Reflecting on Samuel’s personal encounter with God and awareness of God’s claim upon his life, how did you become aware of God’s presence in your life and how did you become aware of gifts or ways God was at work in your life?
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Psalm 139 is a beautiful psalm that reminds us that God is always with us and always has been even before we were conceived. Vss. 1-6 especially remind us that God is so great that we cannot fathom the wisdom and vastness of God. Reflecting on the Samuel story of living in a time when God did not speak often, how does the psalmist seem to view God’s word and revelation?
John 1:43-51
After Jesus’ baptism, he began to move into ministry, which included calling disciples. According to this gospel, Andrew and Simon are first called, then Philip, who tells Nathaniel that they have found the one Moses wrote about. When Philip says the he is Jesus of Nazareth, Nathaniel scoffs and asks if anything good can come out of Nazareth? Nazareth was a much-belittled town in those days. The name was synonymous with “despised.” When Jesus approaches Nathaniel, he is amazed the Jesus is able to tell him things about himself that he could only have known by special powers. He affirms that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel. Jesus tells him there is much more to see and experience.
I Corinthians 6:12-20
Paul cautions the Corinthians that there are many things one can do, but they are not beneficial. He directly addresses prostitution. There was a large human trafficking industry in Corinth. Paul says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit so we should be careful how we live because our lives have been ought with the price of Christ’s life.