I’m Your Servant, Ready to Listen

By Bernadine September 27, 2016 Devotion

^8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”

That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.'” Samuel returned to his bed.

1 Samuel 3: 8-9 (MSG)

We all react differently when we hear our names called, especially based on what we’re doing at the moment. If what we’re doing is important to us and we don’t want to be disturbed, then we may ignore the call. If the person who is calling us isn’t someone who we want to talk to, we may ignore the call.

However, there is one call that we should never ignore, that is the call of God.

In 1 Samuel chapter 3 God called Samuel by name. He didn’t call Him just once he called him four times. Each time, he called his name and patiently waited for Him to answer. We can tell the character of Samuel by the way he reacted when his name was called. Three times he went to Eli’s room sure that he had called him only to be told that he hadn’t. Most of us would have been frustrated or angry by the second call thinking someone was playing a trick on us. However, by the third time Eli recognized that God was calling Samuel and told him what he should do if he heard the call a fourth time.

¹⁰ Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.” 1 Samuel 3:10

Although there are billions of people on this earth God knows the name of each and every one of us. God knows what we are capable of. He makes no mistakes when he calls. God knew Samuel and God knows you. And just like God called Samuel God called each of us.

If you’ll read beyond verse 10 you’ll see that God gave Samuel a message for Eli. Samuel was obedient. He did exactly what God told him to do.

I want to be more like Samuel, quick to listen and quick to obey. Samuel didn’t think about how difficult the task might be. He simply wanted to please God. When he realized that God was calling him he stood ready to listen and ready to serve…

Lord, may we be quick to joyfully answer your call and obey your instructions…