Key Verse: 1 Samuel 3:10
Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

The first verse of our reading is a sad commentary on the spiritual life of Israel. “Rare” and “no widespread revelation” says it all. But God spoke to Samuel and Eli was knowledgeable enough to recognize that God wanted someone to listen to Him. God is a communicating God, but are we listening? It’s hard to hear that “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. This is one of the main reasons why getting up early each day to wait on God is so very important.

God cut Eli’s family off from His blessing because, as our reading informs us, Eli did not restrain his sons from their vile behaviour. This resulted in the tragic capture of the Ark by the enemies of Israel, the death of Eli’s sons, and Eli himself. Most tragic of all was the name of Eli’s grandson, “Ichabod,” meaning that the glory of God had departed from Israel. In our churches, let us reverse the decline and bring God’s glory in Jesus Christ into sharp focus. John said of Jesus, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14b).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I take time right now to spend listening for Your voice. In the quietness of this moment, I wait on You. I meditate on the revelation of Your glory! Hallelujah! Grant that I may help to make that revelation widespread throughout the whole world. Please keep me from being so selfish as to keep that revelation to myself. In Your empowering Name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Eli was the ripe old age of 98 when he died. I was thinking of Eli’s passing this past week. If I live as long as Eli, I’ve got 18 years to go. Whatever time I may have left, I want to serve God faithfully. I want to serve you, dear blog readers. I want to serve the leaders of the Crossroads Family of Ministries. I’m absolutely sure that God did not allow me to live this long in order that I may sit around and twiddle my thumbs! At my age Winston Churchill was serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I’m asking God for wisdom as to what I should spend my remaining days doing!

Yours for the glory of God, even in humour,

David

P.S. I’m thankful that, unlike Eli’s sons, my sons are serving God well. The eldest, David Reynold, is a missionary in Africa, and along with his wife, Kathy, leads a ministry called “World Embrace.” He is our blog photographer. My youngest son, Ronald Wesley, is now, along with his wife, Ann, leading a marriage and family enrichment ministry called “Heart to Heart.” Ron did a series of “Flashback” segments which were released on 100 Huntley Street in 2015 during the 10,000th episode season (click here for a Flashback to 1978 and here for one from 1981). Ron and Ann work with me daily on this blog.