Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3:7 NABRE
As a young boy Samuel is made ward of the temple and presented to the priest Eli by his mother Hannah, in gratefulness of God answering her prayer for a son. We have at the beginning of Samuel’s story an interaction between Samael, Eli and God. Samuel becomes a most important figure in the Hebrew Scriptures, his role anointing the first two Kings of Israel and his presence advising and judging many important decisions. But, we read early Samuel did not know God, in fact God is calling Samuel from his sleep and Samuel thinks it is the priest Eli. It becomes Eli himself who tells Samuel to respond to God, that he is listening, leading to Samuel’s growing relationship with God and critical role in the history of Israel. Samuel’s unknowing of God is typical of all of us. We don’t know God until God reveals Himself to us. Sure we can have friends and family members who tell us about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but this is just softening the heart for when God makes an appearance in our lives. We cannot truly know God until God reveals Himself to us. As followers or ministers we sometimes think we are responsible to bring people to Jesus, but in fact all we can do is introduce, make a person ready to hear when God calls, or Jesus steps into their life. Revelation is from God, and it comes when God is ready to reveal Himself knowing we are ready to receive God as we should.
Do what you can to introduce friends and family to God, but know it is God who will deepen their relationship, revealing Himself at the perfect moment. At best we plant a seed.
Do you invite others to know God? Do you feel responsible for others salvation?
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