1 Samuel 3:10 “Now the Lord came, and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, ‘Speak Lord, for Your servant hears.’”
Joshua 24:23, 24 “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign god which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.” V. 24, ‘And the people said to Joshua, the Lord our God, we will serve, and His voice we will obey!’
Dear God,
I am in my quiet place this morning and again I rejoice in You and because You have placed me in a location in which, I can easily be drawn to You, through the beauty of green, flowers and bird calls and songs; they delight my ears and eyes.
I am contemplating the last days and hours of Joshua, who had been Your valiant warrior and ambassador, as well as leader of the Israelite nation after Moses. As Moses had towards the end of his time as their leader, Joshua was reminding them of what You had done previously for the Children of Israel, as well as stating that they could not give You a divided heart, and still be a successful as a nation in the promised country.
This message is true for us who are counted as ‘spiritual Israel’, in every age. We cannot sit on the fence, so to speak, or dabble with non-Christian belief’s etc., on the side and not be drawn away from You. In the wilderness wanderings, their forefathers had served gods fashioned by human hands instead of the one true Omnipotent God. Joshua had shown them a better way, when he said in Joshua 14:15 “…but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” The people as before, kept saying, “we will serve the Lord”, but often that did not mean they were going to change their ways – or totally commit to following Gods requests, even though You as the one true God had charged them at Mount Sinai with the words, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Amazingly Joshua reveals some families within the tribes of Israel, had been carrying around false, foreign idols for all the 40 years of their wanderings. He also tells them to claim to serve You, yet still keep their idols does not please You, for it reveals that their hearts are not completely true to You the God of heaven. The same is true for us as Christians, and we can personally apply Joshua 24: 23 “…Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the God of Israel.” Only then can we also learn about You and have the interactive relationship that You desire to have with each of us.
The child Samuel, who was given by Hannah to God as a young child, is an example of how to love You our God, with a whole heart. He obediently responded to the Your voice and did as asked, which You require of us all.
When I attend to what I am reading, with my whole heart and mind, You speak to me through Your Holy word very clearly.
Again today, I say ‘speak Lord for Your servant is listening’. I have determined to follow and obey You, not in my own strength, for I cannot, but in the love and strength that You God, give me.
Amen
1 Samuel 3:10 “Now the Lord came, and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, ‘Speak Lord, for Your servant hears.’”
Joshua 24:23, 24 “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign god which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.” V. 24, ‘And the people said to Joshua, the Lord our God, we will serve, and His voice we will obey!’
Dear God,
I am in my quiet place this morning and again I rejoice in You and because You have placed me in a location in which, I can easily be drawn to You, through the beauty of green, flowers and bird calls and songs; they delight my ears and eyes.
I am contemplating the last days and hours of Joshua, who had been Your valiant warrior and ambassador, as well as leader of the Israelite nation after Moses. As Moses had towards the end of his time as their leader, Joshua was reminding them of what You had done previously for the Children of Israel, as well as stating that they could not give You a divided heart, and still be a successful as a nation in the promised country.
This message is true for us who are counted as ‘spiritual Israel’, in every age. We cannot sit on the fence, so to speak, or dabble with non-Christian belief’s etc., on the side and not be drawn away from You. In the wilderness wanderings, their forefathers had served gods fashioned by human hands instead of the one true Omnipotent God. Joshua had shown them a better way, when he said in Joshua 14:15 “….But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” The people as before, kept saying, “we will serve the Lord”, but often that did not mean they were going to change their ways – or totally commit to following Gods requests, even though the one true You as God had charged them at Mount Sinai, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Amazingly Joshua reveals some families of the tribes of Israel, had been carrying around false, foreign idols for all the 40 years of their wanderings. He also tells them to claim to serve You, yet still keep their idols does not please You, for it reveals that their hearts are not completely true to You the God of heaven. The same is true for us as Christians, and we can personally apply Joshua 24: 23 “…Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the God of Israel. Only then can we also learn about You and have the relationship that You desire.
The child Samuel, who was given by Hannah to God as a young child, is an example of how to love You our God, with a whole heart. He obediently responded to the Your voice and did as asked, which You require of us all.
When I attend to what I am reading, with my whole heart and mind, You speak to me through Your Holy word very clearly.
Again today, I say ‘speak Lord for Your servant is listening’. I have determined to follow and obey You, not in my own strength, for I cannot, but in the love and strength that You God, give me.
Amen