In Us and Through Us

"The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up,and He let none of his words fall to the ground." ~1 Samuel 3:19 (NIV)



Background :

A woman named Hannah was barren and prayed for a child. Her barrenness was such a concern for her that she couldn't eat and wept bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. Finally she made a vow that if the LORD would bless her with a child, she would devote the child to Him. God answered her prayer, and as soon as the child was weaned, Hannah took him to live at the temple with Eli the priest.



Samuel slept in the temple, the very place the people expected to hear from God. One night the LORD called to him. He thought it was Eli speaking, so he got up and went to him three different times. Eli finally realized that God was calling Samuel and told him to say, "Speak, for your servant is listening."



"Listening" :

The original Hebrew word for listening means more than simple hearing. It means to hear with a view of obeying. So when Samuel said he was listening, it meant that he intended to do whatever God told him to do.



And his first task was not a simple one. God gave him a message of judgement against Eli, the man who had been like a father to him. The next morning Eli encouraged Samuel to speak fully what the LORD had told him. He did.



With Us :

Because of Samuel's obedience to God's revealed Word, the LORD was with him. When Christ came to earth, He was Emmanuel, God with us. When we obediently submit our lives to the Lordship of Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us. Think of it! God in us! That one thought alone should provoke holy awe in us. Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, dwells within. If we could only keep that thought in our mind at all times, how would it affect our lives?



His Word :

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Christ is the Word (John 1:1), and we are earthen vessels filled with the treasure of who He is (2 Corinthians 4:7). The reason that none of Samuel's words fell to the ground is because he spoke God's Word.



Application :

God's Word is a treasure not to be taken lightly. It is powerful enough to create the universe. That power is released when we speak God's Word, and His Word will accomplish His Divine Will.




"As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is My word that goes out from My mouth:
    It will not return to Me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." ~Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)




Father, we praise You for who You are: our Almighty and Holy God. Thank You, LORD, for the power of Your Word. How awesome that the world and all that is in it was created by the power of Your spoken Word. Help us to always keep in mind that Your Spirit dwells within us, and as Your people we have a great treasure to share with the world. Give us a holy boldness to proclaim Your Word, knowing that it will accomplish Your plan and purpose. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.