GUESS WHO’S CALLING?

“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So, he went and lay down. Again, the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:1-10 NIV)

Today, the story is in the text. If you skipped reading it or you just scanned through it, go back and read it completely. Now, with that being done, let’s look at the stated question in the title above, “Guess Who’s Calling?”

If you are reading this on Saturday morning, this question will be a perfect fit, for this is the day before the Lord’s Day, Sunday. Now, I know YOU are planning on attending worship services, so I’m requesting, not regulating, but merely asking you to forward this to someone that has been MIA (Missing in Attendance) on Sunday mornings. Get their attention! Let them know that it has been God who has been calling, not someone close to God in the house. Let them know that you are not the person that has been calling, but it is the Person who reigns on above, God Himself.

With that recognition, the response to the question should be just the same as Samuel’s. The response should be, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.”  What might the Lord be saying? I think it is summed up in the verses below. Have a great Saturday! Be blessed!”

“Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth! Obey him gladly; come before him, singing with joy. Try to realize what this means—the Lord is God! He made us—we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.” (Psalm 100:1-5 The Living Bible)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King