Responsiveness
| 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 temple 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." (1Samuel3:1-5) |
God called three times and three times Samuel ran to Eli.
Then Eli told Samuel that it was the Lord calling him and that Samuel should answer: "Speak Lord for your servant is listening."
Little Samuel did this and it changed the course of his life and the life of the nation of Israel. It marked the beginning of a life of responsive listening for Samuel.
I believe that one of the reasons Samuel was so effective is that he learned to listen to God at a time when he was very young and very responsive. Children are like that - they are very responsive to the call of those around them.
Unfortunately they (and we) soon develop selective hearing which is a conscious and unconscious trait we carry into adulthood. Consciously we ignore those we do not agree with and those who ask us to move beyond our comfort zones. Unconsciously we screen out the cries of the needy and the plight of those less fortunate than us.
Jesus would have us be more responsive.
Lent is a time in which we ask God to open our ears and enliven our hearts.
May we be like Samuel, ready to run when we are called, and ready to respond when we are needed.
