May 8, 2012

1 Sam 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Ps 106:1-12, Pr 14:30-31

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

(Did you just read that?  Crazy evil.  So flagrantly defiant.  Reminds me of the day before my salvation at age 15,  When on a mission trip in Spain the whole youth group drank on the steps of the Catholic Church.  We were angry and mad, wanting to be heard.  It was the reaction of our leader that brought me to repentance and salvation.  Yet these son's of his were not brought to repentance.)

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
(This is amazing and hopeful to me.  Samuel while being trained up in the things of God did not know God.  How many in church today are trained up but do not know the Father.  Lord let all that seek after your teaching encounter the living God.  Let each of us hear your voice.)

9 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.

(This is so beautiful as it shows just how important it is for those that have heard God's voice to train up those that will hear his voice.  Lord please rise up believer that will train up the young ones looking for the day that they will hear your voice.)

21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”
(The sadness of this wife before she dies.  Naming her son after this horrible ordeal.)

John

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

(Thank you Lord for this amazing promise.  That as believer we need not fear our daily shortcomings condemning us to hell in the last day.  Lord it is with a sad heart that I admit that my thoughts and action at times are still far from what you would have of me.  Yet I am forever grateful that you have not given up on me nor will you condemn me for it.  I pray each day that the words of my mouth will be gentle and loving.  Yet the need for discipline among my children muddies the waters for me.  Lord cover them when I speak hastily.)

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?


(Lord help me with this.  Lord that I seek not the approval of man.)

Proverbs

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.

(Lord I am so amazed at how you have taught me this lesson in times of poverty rather than in plenty.  I am richer today with little, than I ever was with plenty.  For I finally see that you are my provider.  The weight of this world is not on my shoulders.)