September 26, 2012
1st Samuel 2:11-4:1
A Contrast Of Leadership
I. Eli and His Sons 2:12-36
II. Eli and Samuel 3:1-11
III Samuel and God 3: 12-4:1
"The TV show 60 Minutes, ran a segment, a few years ago, which speaks volumes to us about what it means to a society, when there is no real leadership.
The park rangers at a South African wildlife preserve were seriously concerned about the slaughter of 29, rare, white rhinos in the park. They were afraid that poachers had invaded the area and were somehow killing them, for sport. They eventually discovered, though, that the culprits weren't people------the rhinos were being stalked and taken down by teenage elephants.
The story had begun 10 years ago, when the park couldn't sustain the increasing population of elephants. They decided to kill many of the adult elephants, when their babies were old enough to survive without them. And so a whole generation of young elephants had grown up without any fathers or any role models to guide them.
As time went by, many of the young elephants roamed together in gangs and began to do things that elephants normally don't do. They threw sticks and water at the rhinos and they acted like neighborhood bullies. Without any older, dominant males to keep them in line, the young bulls became sexually active---and this caused them to produce excessive testosterone, which led to abnormally, aggressive behavior. A few of the young males became especially violent, and were seen knocking rhinos down and stepping or kneeling on them, long enough, to crush the life out of them. Mafuto, the recognized leader of the elephant gang, was so aggressive, that the rangers finally had to kill him.
The park rangers finally theorized, that the young, teenage elephants were acting so badly, because they didn't have any real leadership. There solution, was to bring in a larger, older male, who would establish himself as the leader, and hopefully, would be able to counteract the bad-boy behavior, of the wayward elephants. It wasn't very long, before the new male, had established his dominance and had put the young bulls, in their places. The killing stopped; the aggression stopped; and as much as it can in a nature preserve, peace still reigns.
We hear that story and we think, that's the animal world----that doesn't apply to sane, intelligent reasonable people----but the truth is----anybody, will do anything, when they're given the right set of circumstances------It has been proven, time after time, century after century, war after war, failed society after failed society, broken family after broken family, lost relationship after lost relationship, bad choice after bad choice----that, without leadership, nothing but confusion and chaos can result----there will be no limits and no boundaries and no balance. Everything will spin out of control and what we think is right will be wrong and what we think is wrong will be right.
Leadership, has always been a desperately needed commodity, in our world-----and the necessity for it, is no different for us today, than it was in the days of Samuel, 3000 years ago----we need it in our homes, in our churches and in our government. But, unfortunately, even as believers, there is a certain cynicism about leadership, that exists in the hearts and minds of most of us.
We have a hard time believing the words of our political leaders. We're suspicious of the motives of our business leaders. And sadly, a lot of times, we're skeptical about the competence of our church leaders. Like the Israelites, in our lesson today, we afraid that our leaders, on all fronts, will let us down. Too many of us think that we're smarter and wiser and more able to lead, than the leaders, who are in place over us, so we've started to develop very low expectations for our leaders.
And in our cynicism, we're thrilled to be proven right, in our low expectations. And the media is terrible about spinning words and emotions, that just feed into, our already jaded way of thinking ----- what better front page story is there, than one that exposes corruption and ineptitude, in high places.
And at the same time, we also have lofty expectations for our leaders; its a conundrum--------
The funny thing is------the reason why we're so cynical toward our leaders, is because we think, that they could do so much better. We tend to get excited about, a change in leadership----- whether it's in our government or the school system or at work or even in church------because in spite of our cynicism----deep in our hearts, we still want to believe in our leaders----we want to give them the benefit of the doubt-----we can't help but hope, that finally, we'll see a true leader emerge, a leader that has, and can provide, exactly what we need, so that we can follow that person.
In this confusion, there is one thing that we forget to consider, a lot of times----Where does God figure into our attitudes about leadership? He should be in the center of, the discernment and the expectation that we have of our leaders; and He should be the author, of our trust in them; and He should be the encourager, of our obedience to them. The buck stops with God. We have to realize that He is sovereign----He is the final authority on everything. We need to look to Him and only Him, to lead us. Unfortunately, Eli and his sons lost sight of this and totally forsook God-----they took advantage of the leadership position that had been given to them and they made a mockery of God's goodness.
We don't want to be like them and we don't want to follow leaders who are like them.
When its time for government elections-----we need to do our homework; we need to know the candidates and their platforms and their records----and when its time to vote for church leadership----of our deacons and pastors or to take a position ourselves----we need to do our homework-----we need to know what each person has to offer, and we need to see the transparency of their hearts, and we need to be able to see evidence of their walk with the Lord----but more than any of this-----we need to take our concern and our questions and our decisions to the Lord----and we need to listen, until we hear Him speak, telling us the way we need to go. Ultimately, He's the only leader we need. Isaiah 30:21 says, "whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,' this is the way; walk in it.'"
Hannah's prayer was a part of last week's lesson------and it's an extraordinary expression of her faith in God's leadership. It takes us to the heart of the message of this whole book and we will have learned this lesson well, if we can start to see the world and God, in the way that Hannah saw them.
I. Eli and His Sons 2:12-36
When Hannah and Elkanah left Samuel with Eli, they thought that they were leaving him in a place of protection and shelter. Because that's the kind of place that the tabernacle was supposed to be, but unfortunately it wasn't. Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas, even though they served as priests, were awful!!!! They didn't know the Lord and they didn't recognize His authority-----so they didn't care how He might view their actions. They were wicked and self serving, and they were turning the Lord's house into their own den of iniquity. And they were the worst kind of leaders---- they weren't just turning their own backs on the Lord, with their actions and attitude, they were leading other people to turn away from Him too.
In our lives, we can be just like Hannah and Elkanah----way too often, we think, that because our children (whether they are small or whether they are adults) are in Christian schools, or because they are active in church programs or hanging out with other young people, from Christian homes----- that they are where they are supposed to be, with the people they are supposed to be with------and that we can relax our vigilance a little bit----but we need to be more aware and be careful not to kid ourselves----satan is as alive and well in the places where Christians meet ,as he is in places where a Christian wouldn't be caught dead------
(J. Vernon McGee says that sometimes, those "safe" places can be even more dangerous------and that that's when we need to pray even harder, for our children and those that we love; and for our leaders, too. We need learn to keep our eyes wider open and our minds constantly alert, because the devil cannot stand it, when something good is happening in the life of a believer or for God's kingdom----- he will show up---- and because he knows that he can't rob a believer of his salvation, instead, he will try everything he can, to trip us up and rob us of our joy. He will try and use anyone and anything to mess us up.The devil was in the upper room that night, when Jesus was betrayed and he was in the garden later on, when the soldiers came to get Jesus, and he was laughing the next morning, as Jesus carried his cross and stumbled and fell, on the way to Calvary.) We need to always be on our guard.
Israelite law stipulated that the needs of the Levite priests (the caretakers of God's house and its contents and the men who handled the duties of the sacrificial offerings for the people----they were more like our deacons and committee members than they were, what we would consider as priests or preachers) would be met through the tithes and the sacrifice offerings that the people would bring to the tabernacle, at least 3 times a year.
So because Eli's sons were priests (they had inherited the title, they weren't called to it) that's the way they were supposed to be taken care of. But Eli's sons were greedy and lazy and their hearts were hard-----they took advantage of their position, to satisfy their lust for power and possessions and control. They abused the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh, by taking and using their offerings, sometimes by force, to satisfy their own personal desires.
The offerings were supposed to be given to the Lord, by the people, to show Him honor and respect and as a way to seek forgiveness for their sins------not to fatten the stomachs and the coffers and the egos of evil men. In taking the offerings, before they were offered to God on the altar and eating the fat that was supposed to be burned as a sweet savor to the Lord, and in taking the choicest pieces meat, for themselves, Eli's sons were treating the people, their offerings and, most importantly, God, with contempt.
Their disdain and arrogance toward both people and the worship of Almighty God, was undermining the integrity of the whole priesthood and it was taking glory and authority away from God. It's really bad when a person hardens their own heart against God, but when they lead other people to do it, it is even worse. We need to be so careful that our behavior and our words and our influence, points people to the Lord, not away from Him.
Eli's sons knew better, but they continued to disobey God deliberately, by cheating, seducing and robbing the people.
The contempt displayed in the behavior of his sons and in Eli's failure to curb them, is even more serious, in the light of God's grace----they kept on sinning deliberately, after they know the truth of God. Any sin is wrong, but sin carried out deliberately and deceitfully is the worst kind! When we sin out of ignorance, we still deserve punishment, but when we sin willfully, the consequences will and should be more severe.
Eli was an Old Testament priest, but he had a very modern problem. And he didn't deserve the honor and respect that he was given in public, because of the office he held, because his private life was in shambles. He may have been a priest, serving God and the people of Israel, but he was a terrible parent. His sons brought him grief and they led him to ruin and death. He didn't fulfill the role of leading the people any better than his sons did. He let his inability, to say no to them, interfere with his love for God, and the discharge of his duties.
Being a leader in the church is a special calling…and it should not be treated lightly by any of us.
1 Timothy 3;1-7 says, "This is a trustworthy saying: 'If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him, so that he would not be disgraced and fall into the devil's trap."
Eli had had a difficult time, rearing his sons. Apparently, he was a soft touch, where discipline was needed. He seemed to turn a blind eye to a lot of their wrongdoing. But Eli wasn't just a father who was trying to handle his rebellious sons. He was much more------he was the high priest, who was ignoring the sins, of priests who were under his control. Eli was guilty of honoring his sons above God, by letting them continue in their sinful ways. Is there a situation in our lives, with our family or with work or with a friend, that we've allowed to continue, even though we know its wrong. If there is, we're just as guilty as those who are engaged in the wrong act. Eli was tolerating their sin----and tolerating sin, is a sin itself.
Eli knew that his sons were evil, but he did little to correct or stop them, even when the integrity of God's sanctuary was threatened. As the high priest, Eli should have had them executed-----so there's no wonder that he chose not to confront the situation---he must have been terrified as a priest and heartsick as a parent! But by ignoring their selfish actions, Eli let his sons ruin their own lives and the lives of many others. The lesson for us to learn, is to realize that there are times when serious problems need to be confronted, even if the process and the consequences are painful.
Eli lacked two important qualities that are needed for effective parental discipline--- firm resolve and corrective action.
Eli reacted to situations instead of solving them. But even his reactions tended to be weak. God sent an unknown prophet to point out the son's errors, but Eli did little to correct them. The contrast between God's dealing with Eli and Eli's dealing with his sons is clear-----God gave warning, spelled out the consequences of disobedience, and then He acted. Eli didn't do anything but warn them----almost like a parent who threatens a child with punishment and then doesn't follow through. Children need to learn that their parents words and actions go together. (when our children were growing up, we had friends whose children knew, that if their parents said maybe, it really meant yes----I hope that our children knew that when we said maybe, we meant maybe…..you'll have to ask Mary Kathryn…) We need to say what we mean and mean what we say. Both love and discipline have to be spoken, as well as acted out.
After the unknown prophet reminded Eli, of the special privileges that God had given to him and his sons, because of the legacy they had inherited----he asked Eli, why he had chosen to honor his sons more than he had chosen to honor God. Eli and his sons had chosen to trade all the blessings and privileges of their priesthood for some meat. Our commentary for this week says "that as Christians, we need to be so careful that we don't trade our spiritual blessings for the things of this world. We can't serve 2 masters. It might not be money or popularity or prestige that we want-----but it may be, that we don't spend the time with the Lord that we should---maybe we choose to watch TV or read a book or talk on the phone or some other temporal pleasure------not that any of those things are bad, but when we consistently choose to do everything, but spend time with the Lord----we'll miss out on the blessings, that the Lord has for us. Just like our leaders need to understand and live by the right priorities, so do we.
Our loving God doesn't want to put anybody to death-----but in His sovereign heart and mind, Eli's two sons had crossed over the line of no return----they had defiled and denied and defied God's plan and provision, for dealing with sins. God, with His love for Israel, couldn't let the situation continue. Eli and his sons would eventually have to die for their sins----and the privilege of priesthood removed, forever, from the men in Eli's line of descent. There are places in the Old and the New Testaments that teach us, that there are circumstances, when God will give up on people, and there's nothing that will change that judgement. To someone who repents, God would never say that He doesn't forgive them, but repentance is a gift, that God offers to people----and if He chooses to, He can decide to stop offering it, if people keep refusing to take it. And He will leave people, to the consequences of their own actions, when they reach the point of no return. (In the OT, Pharaoh, and his hard heart is an example of this and Judas, and his hard heart, is an example of it, in the NT.)
The last point, in the message that was delivered to Eli, is remarkable. Their own wickedness, was going to bring God's judgment onto Eli's family, but that judgement wasn't going to be God's last word. In His grace, God gave Eli a glimpse into the future. In spite of his failure as a father and as an honorable priest, God allowed him to see, that God, Himself, was going to raise up a faithful priest, who would be a man after His own heart. And He kept His promise! Most commentators agree, that there are 3 different men who fulfilled it----Samuel, then Zadok and then ultimately, the Lord Jesus, the Great High Priest for, all eternity.
During this whole time, a stark contrast can be seen, between Eli's sons and Samuel-----physically and spiritually----
It's a telling thing, that each year when Hannah made Samuel new clothes, she made him garments that only a priest would wear.
There are other clear contrasts between them too: They are:
that Samuel served the Lord-------Hophni and Phinhas grabbed all that they could, for themselves
that Samuel matured-----------------Hophni and Phinehas become more and more decadent
that Samuel increased in stature and favor-------Hophni and Phinehas were marked for death
that as the curve of Eli's priesthood declined-----the curve of Samuel's ministry rose
that as the death of Hophni and Phinehas was prophesied-----the establishment of Samuel, as a faithful priest, was realized.
II. Eli and Samuel 3:1-11
Although God, had spoken directly and audibly with Moses and Joshua----- His word become rare, during the 3 centuries, that the people were ruled by His God-appointed judges. There are only 3 prophets and 5 revelations recorded in scripture, during this time, including the unknown prophet who came to speak to Eli. By the time Eli and his sons were serving in the Tabernacle, no prophets were speaking God's messages, to Israel. Eli and his sons were the last, of a long line of priests, who either refused to listen to God, or who allowed greed, to get in the way of any communication with Him. And, the absence of God's word, may have been a sign of God's judgment on them---because their rebellion against Him had become a way of life----- except for a remnant, like Samuel's family. Sin keeps man and God separated. When God's word is not proclaimed, a society will degenerate quickly-----sin keeps us from listening to God and it keeps God from listening to us. But God loves us, so He will only let His silence last so long, before He will speak to us.
There is a "Dennis the Menace" cartoon that emphasizes the difference between hearing and listening----- Dennis ran into Mr. Wilson's house and saw him sitting down and reading the newspaper. Immediately, Dennis greeted him with a warm, "Hello Mr. Wilson". But Mr. Wilson didn't respond. Again Dennis spoke, but this time he was a little louder, "Hello, Mr. Wilson", No response came from behind the paper. Finally Dennis blasted forth, "Hel-looo, Mr. Wilson!!!!" Still Mr. Wilson didn't answer. So Dennis turned to leave and in a normal voice, he said, "Well then, goodbye, Mr. Wilson", and Mr. Wilson replied, "Goodbye, Dennis." As he walked out the door, Dennis said to himself, "There's nothing wrong with his hearing, but his listenings's not so good."
God was just beginning move, when He spoke to Samuel. Change was coming-----up until then, the 12 tribes had been loosely connected, each one governed by its own clan leaders----and they only came together to war against common enemies, under a God-appointed judge, from time to time----or to see each other at Shiloh, for the feasts and festivals. But the time had come, when Israel, was going to institute a central government, with a king, ruling over them all----- and prophets were going to be needed, because God was going to speak through them, to guide the king----- and Samuel was the first of those prophets.
Samuel was able to hear, but he didn't really understand, that He needed to be listening for God's call, yet------I don't think he would have been able to understand God's word------- until the time was right-------And only God could decide when that time was right-----and He chose the wee hours of that morning, in the tabernacle. That's when Samuel heard God speak for the first time and really listened to what He had to say.
Samuel had reached the age of accountability----it was time for an encounter with the Lord, like everyone has to have, in order to be able to accept Him or to reject Him, for who He is. It was personal, private and face to face----it was between God and Samuel-----and for the first time, Samuel became responsible for the knowledge, that he'd been training for and dedicated to, since before he was born.
The scene of the encounter between Samuel and God, contains some very interesting details, that can't help but capture our imagination----v. 3 says, "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."
The Ark of God was kept in the most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), which was the innermost room of the Tabernacle, where only the High Priest could go once a year. This is the first mention of the Ark, in 1st Samuel. The presence of the Ark, in the Tabernacle, was a reminder of God's covenant relationship with the children of Israel, and His covenant command to them, to obey Him and be His people. The Ark was a gold plated wooden box, that contained the 2 tablets of the 10 Commandments, Aaron's rod and a jar of manna. The lid was called the mercy seat, and that's where God had promised that He would always meet His people.
In front of the Most Holy Place, was the Holy Place, a small room, where the other sacred furniture of the tabernacle was kept (the incense altar, the Bread of the Presence and the lampstand.) Just outside the Holy Place, was a court, with small rooms, where the priests were supposed to stay. Eli, may have been in one of those rooms, and Samuel must have been in the Holy Place, near the lampstand, so that he could tend it, and make sure it didn't go out. The lampstand was supposed to burn continually, in front of the curtain, that shielded the Ark of God, because God had promised, that as long as the ark was there, and the light in the lamp was burning, then His presence was there too.
In this particular instance, the fact that the lamp had not gone out, indicated that God spoke to Samuel sometime in the predawn hours----- and most theologians agree that there is a deeper meaning here-----and it is, that the darkness represented God's silence and Eli's blindness----and, because the light hadn't gone out yet, when He spoke, suggested that God hadn't abandoned His people, and that there was still time and there was still hope. The fact that Samuel was lying near the Ark, the place where God said He would always be found, leads us to believe that Samuel, of all the Israelites, was there for God's divine purpose.
When God spoke to Samuel, it was an amazing thing!!!!!1 because God speaking, is the basic reality of our faith. It is the fundamental foundation, of everything that we believe. God's revelation to us, begins in Genesis 1:1 when God speaks the world into existence, and it concludes, in Revelation 22:17, with Jesus speaking, an invitation for us "to come…" All the pages in between are packed with sentences that God speaks---about judgment, salvation, healing, guidance, admonition, comfort, wisdom and peace. And the most precious thing about God speaking, is that He speaks to us personally, by our names-----Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel…and each one of us...
And Samuel, when God spoke, listened----3 times he misidentified God's words to Him, as human words-----but the 4th time, with the help of Eli, he listened to them as God's words. And He answered Him. Because in the end, when God speaks, the only thing that matters-----is what God says and what He tells us to do, and that we do it!
Listening to Him and responding, is vital, in our relationship with the Lord. God doesn't always use the sound of a human voice, to speak to us-----He might speak through the scripture, or through another person or through a situation-----we have to be paying attention, and we have to listen carefully, to hear Him clearly. Learning to discern the difference between God's words speaking to us, and the words of another person, isn't easy. We have to make sure that we line the words up, with what we know to be true about God. If they don't line up with the scripture and they don't reflect His character, then they aren't His, and we need to run away from them. And to be able to receive His messages, we have to make a conscious choice to listen, and then be ready to obey Him. We have to be ready to say "Here I am Lord, speak for your servant's listening…" like Samuel did.
III. Samuel and God 3:12-4:1
Personally, I take great comfort in the fact, that the Lord was persistent, in His call to Samuel-----I'm thankful that He didn't give up-----and He doesn't give up on us either, He will keep on, calling our names, until He finally gets our attention------I'm thankful that He will use every means available, to get us to listen, even if it's painful---- because sometimes, He has to beat us over the head, with our own stubborn pride. He knows how hard-hearted we are, and how blind and selfish we can be, and yet, He still calls our names over and over again. That kind of love and patience is incomprehensible to us.
In our church service on Sunday morning, the choir sang a song I love so much, that makes me so aware of the Lord's presence that I feel like I could reach out and touch Him------ It reminds me, of what it must have been like, when God called Samuel's name, in those early morning hours.
The song is "He Is Here"---the words go like this….
I sense an awesome moving of the Holy Spirit
And I see His countenance resting on your face
I know there are angels hovering all around us
For the presence of the Lord is in this place
He is here, Hallelujah!
He is here, Amen!
He is here, Holy Holy
I will bless His name again
He is here, Listen closely
Hear Him calling out you name
He is here, you can touch Him
You will never be the same.
I searched for peace among the shadows, dark and lonely
Gave up on finding that strong and lasting love
I tasted all the things that sin could offer me
But today, I feast on manna from above
Repeat Chorus
That must have been how it felt for Samuel, when He laid back down that 3rd time-----don't you think he could feel the presence of the Lord, in that room with him? And then, when God spoke the 4th time, not only did He call Samuel's name twice, but He allowed Samuel to see, that he was truly in His presence--------Samuel must have been overwhelmed with amazement------because when we really and truly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit----the world just seems to fade away, and the only reality there is, is Him, and all we want to do, is to kneel down and worship Him, in obedience.
In the natural order of things, you would expect an audible message from God, to be given to the adult priest, Eli----- not to the child-priest in training, Samuel----- because Eli was older and more experienced and he held the proper position. But God's chain of command, is based on faith, not on age or position. In finding faithful followers, God will often times, use unexpected channels and unexpected people. We need to be prepared for the Lord to work in any place, at any time, though anyone, that He chooses.
God's message was to Samuel, but it was meant for Eli, and it was troubling to Samuel. He didn't want to tell Eli, whom He obviously loved and respected, that he and his sons were going to die. He went back to bed and then went about his chores the next morning, without telling Eli what God had said to him. Telling someone God's truth about their behavior or the behavior of someone that they love, can be either painful, or it can be joyous. We like to spread messages of hope, not messages of doom----No one likes to be the bearer of bad news----but when God tells us to speak, we better speak----and we better speak the truth of the gospel, even though it is a double-edged sword-----on one hand----the good news is, that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins----and if we will receive His gift of salvation, then we will spend eternity with Him in heaven------and on the other hand, the bad news is, that if we reject His gift of salvation, then we will be eternally damned, to the punishment of hell----separated from Him forever.
Eli taught Samuel well---he wouldn't let him off the hook-----he demanded that he tell him what God had said-----this taught Samuel to be faithful, in speaking God's words, no matter who He was talking to. This taught him to never soften or change or withhold God's message, even if it could hurt the very people, who were closest to him. (same for us) It taught him that God was a holy and sovereign God. The Lord had already said that there would be no atonement for the sins of Eli and his sons and Samuel's words from God, just reiterated the truth of the prophecy. Eli accepted God's decision and took responsibility for his actions. In the end Eli, taught Samuel that God's will is perfect and that His judgment is righteous and that it must always be submitted to.
The power of God's call on Samuel's life is shown in the faithfulness of God's presence with Samuel's ministry-----God walked with Samuel every step of the way and Samuel was careful to only speak the words, that God spoke, to him. He had the courage to be faithful to the message of God, no matter what. And because he did, God blessed his ministry, and never failed to confirm his prophecies. Samuel's words were trustworthy, because they were the Lord's words----and his reputation as a prophet of the Lord, spread from one corner of the Promised Land to the other.
As a young boy, Samuel learned that God was the only leader he could trust. And before he died, Eli learned the same thing. Have we come to that same realization yet, and and do we live our lives like we truly believe it?
Years ago, there was a brokerage firm that developed a series of successful TV ads, called E.F. Hutton. The circumstances were different, but the message was always the same. In a crowded room, restaurant, or other location, a small group of people would be busy talking about some financial investment.
Generally, one individual would not be saying much, but in the course of the conversation, that person would finally be asked what he or she thought. The person always responded to every ad by saying the same thing, "well, my broker is E.F. Hutton, and E.F. Hutton says…" immediately, the person would stop speaking and realize that all activity around him had ceased, everything had become silent-----and all heads were strained toward him, and all their ears stretched out, to catch the next words out of his mouth. At that point, an announcer would break in and say, "When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen…"
The implication was clear-----E.F.Hutton was so successful in the investment business, that people would stop everything, just to listen to what the broker had to say.
Wouldn't it be wonderful, if that's the way we were about what God has to say. Our ad would say, "When the Lord speaks, people listen!"
God is the creator and sustainer of life. He gave His only son to die on the cross, in order that we might have life. He gave us the Bible, His love letter and instruction manuel. He wants to be our leader, and He wants to guide us from here to eternity. The very least that we can do, is to learn to say what Samuel did, Speak Lord, because your servant is listening---and then put into practice what He tells us to.
No comments:
Post a Comment