Adonai called, “Sh’mu’el!” and he answered, “Here I am.” Then he ran to ‘Eli and said, “Here I am — you called me?” But he said, “I didn’t call you; go back, and lie down… At last ‘Eli realized it was Adonai calling the child. So ‘Eli said to Sh’mu’el, “Go, and lie down. If you are called again, say, ‘Speak, Adonai; your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:5,9
Today I had an interesting day, writing and writing things. But one of the things was extra special and happened at the gym.
A guy I kind of know now for over a year. We speak a little in passing but both us mostly keep to ourselves. Anyways I said something to him with normal small talk, thinking in a few words we would go our separate ways like usual. But this time was different, and I wish I remembered exactly how it all started, but can’t.
He made some comments about how good life is but he cannot really express it around people. So I said I get it and feel the same way. It is both dangerous and you risk people calling you crazy when you tell of the good God does in your life.
So this young man Joe started speaking of becoming a “christian” and his life turning around. And as normal I jumped in and told him about Yeshua and how the word “christian” came about and to be careful with doctrine. Then it went to a different level, because he understood a lot of what I was saying and spoke of the “new man” he was experiencing. So our conversation got deeper and I told him how I hear God speak and what I wrote earlier in the morning about how the religious people take their scriptures, come up with a concept and make it legal with God (so they think). Basically how God gave us his contract for salvation and we come in with our own, demanding God accept it, but he doesn’t.
This young man agreed and understood what I was saying so we went deeper with it. ANd I told him about hearing God speak with his voice, including how he told me to move to Mexico. And how his blessings come because of obedience. He still understood and then told me about how a couple of days he heard his name called and thought it was his dad, so he answered but his dad did not answer back. Immediately in my mind I thought of the story of Samuel (Sh’mu’el) and how God spoke to him but he thought it was Eli. Eventually Eli told him it was God and told him to say “speak Adonai, your servant listens.” So I told Joe, next time you hear his voice say that, and listen.
The second part of this story relates back to the message from earlier about the contract the religions offer to Jesus who accepts it like he is desperate for followers. Verses the true believers who see themselves as a servant, and listens to him and then obeys his commands. Samuel was a mighty profit and very obedient to the Lord, a true servant. He did this without the power of the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit had not yet been given. So imagine what we are capable of with the Holy Spirit?
For me, it is a welcome sight, because I speak and speak about God and who he really is and what he really wants, and the message goes in one ear and out the other with people. Or sometimes they hear it and believe in things said, and then at some point they find something to fall back into their “christian” ways again. They go back to their man made contract they think God accepts. That is the sad thing and sad reality of man.