Anglican Devotional 23 September 2024 | A Shocking Revelation

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The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 September 2024 | A Shocking Revelation

TOPIC: A Shocking Revelation

READ: 1 Samuel 3: 1-18 (NKJV)

Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; [there was] no widespread revelation.
And it came to pass at that time, while Eli [was] lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,
and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God [was,] and while Samuel was lying down,
that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”
So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”
(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
“In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
“For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
“And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” And he answered, “Here I am.”
And he said, “What [is] the word that [the] [Lord] spoke to you? Please do not hide [it] from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.”
Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It [is] the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”

THE MESSAGE:

In the days when Samuel ministered under Eli, there was no revelation of God’s Word. On one occasion, the Lord called Samuel at night and he ran to Eli who told him to go back and sleep as he did not call him. This happened three times until Eli told him what to say. When the Lord called the fourth time, Samuel answered Him according to Eli’s directive and was given a message for Eli. The next day, Eli demanded to be told what God said and Samuel related the message to him. Eli accepted the shocking news with remorseless resignation. In the absence of faithful priests in Shiloh, God raised the boy Samuel as His mouthpiece.

The young boy was bold enough to deliver a shocking message to the aged Priest, Eli. The Lord has given Christians an important gospel message for the world (Matt.28: 19-20). Have you been faithful in preaching the gospel in your family, workplace, and church? Do you preach the message of Christ to your friends and contacts on Twitter; Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other online platforms? Tell someone today about the saving power of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible (John 3: 16).

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please help me to be a faithful witness of your grace in Jesus’ Name, Amen.