5-19-2014

 Good Morning All,

         1 Samuel 3:4; “Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”

     This verse is part of the story of the call of Samuel.  Samuel was a young boy probably 12 or 13 at the time of our story.  He was “given” to God as an infant and grew up in the Temple.  This isn’t as bad as we think; it was really an honor for him and his mother.  He was a servant in the Temple and this was a vocation that made his mother happy.  So one night when Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone call his name.  He thought it was the priest he was aiding and that was Eli.  Samuel went to Eli and asked what he wanted.  Eli responded that he did not call him.  So Samuel went to back to bed.  This happened again.  This time Eli told Samuel that it is God calling him so when God called his name again he was to answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”

    Samuel heard someone calling out his name and he naturally assumed it was his teacher/mentor Eli.  He didn’t expect that God would call out his name and want him to do something.  He almost missed God’s call to service and Israel would have missed one of its greatest prophets.  But he heard the call and answered.

    God calls to you many different times in many different ways.  Do you hear him?  Do you hear him when the person ahead of you trying to go in the door but has their hands full and can’t open the door?  Do you hear God calling you to help?  Do you hear God calling to you when your neighbor needs a babysitter for an afternoon?  Do you hear God calling you when that neighbor’s child needs some help with a school project?  There are little times when God calls out to you, do you hear him?

     Too often we miss the everyday call.  We think of a pastor or a missionary or a parochial teacher.  While these are wonderful calls, they are few.  Yet all of us, no matter how young or old, no matter how rich or poor, there are lots of ways that God calls us into his service.  Sometimes, those calls don’t always seem to be from God; why would God want me to help serve at a church meal or help with a worship service?  Try and remember that all we do is to bring glory to God; he decides the value of your gift not you.  You never know when the kind word you spoke to that person was the first kind word they heard today.  Remember our good works are to benefit our neighbor not us.

     We never know how what we do, seemingly small to us, can have a major impact on someone else’s day.  You may be the first or only smile, friendly voice, kind act that occurred to that person today.  So hear God’s call to be the kind and loving person that he wants you to be.  Hear God’s call to be the compassionate and loving redeemed child that you are.

Gracious Lord, you call to us every day.  Help me to hear your voice.  Help me to live as your dear child showing love and compassion to all.  Help me to be the kind face and the friendly voice in the world that you have placed me in.  To you our precious risen Savior we lift up our prayers.  Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret