Christmas
December 26, 2018
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, ‘May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord’; and then they would return to their home.
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.
This is a wonderful story about Eli raising a boy to become a prophet. If you read the story around this story you learn that Eli did not do so well with his own sons. Perhaps that happened because Eli was younger when he reared his sons and had gain wisdom that helped him deal better with Samuel. Experts say that the first three or so are crucial to how children develop. Perhaps Samuel’s own parents instilled much in those few years he was with them. Parents may have greater expectations for their own children which sometimes gets in the way of parenting well. Perhaps Eli’s sons got so caught up in the world that nothing Eli had done or could do made any difference. All of these are possible; most likely a combination of them or some other outside force made an impact.
An underlying message in the story of Samuel is that none of us are so chiseled in stone that we cannot overcome traits that hold us back whether we are failing to be all that we can be or targeting our talents toward wrong outcomes. God is always present with us an provides the Holy Spirit to guide us. The key to growing away from traits that are not helpful is staying in tune with God and opening ourselves to God’s guidance.
Prayer: God, forgive us when we stubbornly continue down wrong paths or sit idly ignoring our calling. Help us grow in favor with the Lord and with the people so we can be a blessing to them. Amen.