"Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision" (1 Samuel 3:15)
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. The we say, "I wonder if that is God's voice?" Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "speak, Lord," and make time to listen. Chastening is more then a means of discipline-it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, "Speak,Lord." Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember waht He said? Was it Luke 11:13, or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus we hear God all the time.
Should i tell my "Eli" what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, "I must shield 'Eli'," who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli-he had to decide that for himself. God's message to you may hurt your "Eli," but trying to prevent suffering in another's life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone's right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Mathew 5:29-30)
Never ask another person's advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. ".... I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood ... " (Galatians 1:16)
Devo take from My Utmost for His Highest
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3 comments:
For some reason, i had great difficulty reading this devo.
However, i do agree that i personally have a hard time hearing God's voice.. and also discerning God's voice from satan's.
Reading about how Samuel was reluctant to tell Eli about what God has told Samuel, i do not fully pull the correlation between samuel "protecting" Eli. Eli in a sense did curse Samuel saying "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." (1 Sam 3:17)
So in that sense, Samuel was kinda forced to tell Eli everything.
However, i do understand the fact that Samuel must have been very terrified at the fact that he was going to tell the someone who is like his worldly father, that Eli's family is going to suffer something that cannot be atoned by sacrifice or offering. But Samuel chose to inform Eli about God's plans and in a sense warned Eli.
In the same sense, they have communication and in any relationship whether it be with God, family, friends, significant one(s), communication is Key.
Jon rbk (1,1) -> oh man.. almost failed.. 2:30-3am in the morn i was so close to falling into temptation. Praise God for giving me strength to overcome temptation.
pretty awesome post.
I had some difficulty understanding the very last part.
Are we not to ask for advice on whether or not the calling is from God? Because i know for a fact that a lot of times it is through my friends that God shaped me into who I am.... so it was difficult for me to really accept it. =\
- jacky (2,0)
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