Devotionals

Good Listener

by PamFord Davis 
10/27/16
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Be honest; are you a good listener?

Sometimes I’m only half listening; tuning the speaker out, I formulate my reply.

As a lad, Samuel learned the necessity of listening.

“The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.

One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his room. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.

Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, ‘Here I am.’  He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’

‘I didn’t call,’ Eli replied. ‘Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down.

Once again the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’

Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’

‘I didn’t call, my son,’ he replied. ‘Go back and lie down.’

Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’

Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. He told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’

Samuel responded, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’