-

January 17, 2018 Wednesday

“And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family for ever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’" Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am." "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.” (1Samuel 3:11-20 NIV)



            Sometimes we hear something from God that we don’t want to hear.  For some this is a good thing because they enjoy telling others they are bad or that they are wrong.  But for others this is hard because we do not want to say terrible things to others. 

            One time I asked God why I should share something terrible with someone.  Couldn’t God get someone else to share this?  God helped me realize that I was the one to share precisely because I would not like to and would not rejoice in their pain!

            Do you understand Samuel’s lack of desire to tell Eli that God considered him and his family “contemptible”?  Not just because Samuel cared but also because he was living in Eli’s home and under his authority.

            The other side is that Eli wanted to know!  Eli wanted to hear even the bad news from God.  Eli had to call for Samuel to be placed under the same judgment if he did not tell him!

            Will we be under the same judgment of the lost if we do not tell them what God said, even if we do not want to?  What does the Bible say about this?  That is if you even read it. 

            Then we see the hope of telling others God’s call for them.  At hearing such terrible news Eli responds "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."   Eli accepts God and

            How will they know of their need for God if we do not tell them?  How will they know God loves them if we do not tell them?  How will they know of the hope through God’s grace in Jesus Christ if we do not tell them?

            Will you hear God’s call and tell them?



            The last couple of days have been bad and I have spent most of the day in bed.  My stomach has been very acidic and I have not been able to eat much.  Slept a lot and even napped a lot during the day but I still feel very weak.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
April 3, 2018 Tuesday “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there , and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, an
Read more
-
September 3, 2017 Sunday             Even after a long Saturday I was able to go to Asbury and receive Communion and to worship my Lord and My Love.   We stayed for Sunday School and Peggy had a great lesson from Dr Kalas’ book Parables From the Backside Volume 2 .   A great class, a great teacher and a great book.               In the afternoon I tried to sleep but just was able to rest some.   VERY worn out by being so busy but it was good.   Bonnie remembers when we would visit Gramps, her grandfather; he would say that he would enjoy the memory of our visit for weeks.   Now I understand what he meant.   So many wonderful memories nourish me every day.
Read more
-
May 19, 2017 Looking back             As weeks turned to months the memories grew and even connected together.  A dark memory from my time in the Navy connected with a dark memory from my childhood.  Each one as I explained to my counselor and to Bonnie had a “ghost” with it.  A person who seemed to haunt my life.  Watching the news connected to a memory and suddenly I could smell, taste and see the memory and it became more real than my daily life.              At the same time I was growing weaker and the pain in the body was increasing.  There was a general weakness that began in my fingers and toes and moved upward more rapidly in my legs than arms.  The cramps became an agony and happened at least two times a night.  Lasting for about an hour each time I became more and more sleep deprived even with my C-Pap machine.             I contacted my Staff Pastor Parish Relations person and the District Superintendent to let them know about the trouble I was having as I was sl
Read more