A Little Boy: A Difficult Task

Samuel was only a boy when God began speaking to him in an audible voice (1 Samuel 3). And the first message he received was a hard one to deliver.

God told the boy Samuel that he must tell the elderly priest Eli (his guardian) that God was going to judge Eli because "his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them." 

Samuel was scared to deliver this message, but he did it anyway (v.15-18). Soon after, Eli's sons were killed in battle and Eli fell and broke his neck (1 Samuel 4).

This first message was representative of many other messages Samuel would deliver for God throughout his lifetime. It was not an easy task for Samuel because the messages God gave him were unpleasant, unpopular and typically ignored. 

But Samuel had a prophet's heart. He not only transmitted hard truths, he prayed and grieved for his disobedient countrymen. 

For example, when King Saul made a mockery of God's commands, Samuel delivered a final judgment against Saul (1 Samuel 15:22-23), but Samuel grieved for Saul the rest of his life (15:35). See Short List Repentance.

If God asks you to share hard truths, share them like Samuel, boldly and accurately but with compassion and sorrow for the disobedient. 

If you're offended by hard truths, repent. They are God's loving warnings. 

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Do a short, nutritious Bible study on this devotion: An Obedient Little Boy Becomes a Great Man of God.

I encourage you to check out this 1-minute devotion too:
Why Following Christ Will Never Make Us Popular

Notes: According to her promise, Hannah, gave Samuel to God's service when he was weaned. Most commentators agree this is does not mean weaned from breast milk, but a spiritual weaning. That is, after she had taught him about the Lord. Bible scholars disagree about the actual age he started serving in the temple, but it appears to be between 5-10 years of age. 

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. 

 

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