Obedience to God
Becoming Today's Man: Lessons from Samuel's Life
In a world of constant change and uncertainty, how can we remain relevant and spiritually vibrant? The story of Samuel, a prophet in ancient Israel, offers profound insights into this question. His life exemplifies two crucial practices that can help us navigate our own spiritual journeys: communion with God and obedience to His word.
Communion with God: Building Sacred Space
When life overwhelms us with grief, uncertainty, or fear, our natural inclination might be to seek more information or distract ourselves with activity. However, the true solution lies in building sacred space – intentional time set aside for deep communion with God.
In uncertain times, whether facing global crises, national unrest, or personal struggles, we must sink our roots deeper into our relationship with Jesus. Like a tree seeking water during a drought, we need to tap into the living water that sustains us through desert seasons.
Building this sacred space requires intentionality. Our busy lives often become the enemy of genuine communion with God. We must set aside time, giving God our full attention – listening for His voice, receiving reassurance from His promises, and even accepting course correction for misaligned thoughts and feelings.
This practice of communion isn't just a nice addition to our spiritual lives; it's essential. We cannot bear the fruit of peace unless we ourselves are at peace. We can't give what we don't have. By pausing our hectic schedules to listen for God's comfort, correction, and instruction, we find rest in His presence and receive His guidance.
Obedience: Courage to Follow God's Call
While communion with God requires intentionality, obeying His word often demands courage. Samuel's life illustrates this beautifully. When God called him to anoint a new king while the current (and volatile) King Saul was still on the throne, Samuel was understandably afraid. "How can I do that?" he asked. "If Saul hears about it, he'll kill me!"
This highlights an important truth: A God-sized problem requires a God-sized solution. We should never feel completely capable of what God calls us to do. Our inadequacy should drive us to lean more heavily on the Holy Spirit's anointing, not become an excuse for inaction.
The degree of courage required to say "yes" to God often indicates how much we need to rely on Him. Throughout scripture, we see examples of individuals who stepped out in faith – Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Elijah – men and women who had the courage to stand alone against cultural tides and declare God's truth even when it was unpopular or dangerous.
Recognizing God's Voice
Obeying God starts with recognizing His voice. Samuel's early training in the tabernacle prepared him for a lifetime of hearing and responding to God. As a young boy, he learned to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." This simple yet profound statement should be our own heart's posture.
The more we position ourselves to listen, the more likely we are to hear God's voice. This requires intentionally quieting the noise of our lives – silencing our own thoughts, turning off distractions, and creating space to truly hear. God speaks not just through formal teaching or dramatic experiences, but often in subtle ways as we attune our hearts to Him.
Trusting God's Perspective
Obedience also means trusting God's perspective over our limited point of view. When Samuel went to anoint the new king, he was initially impressed by the outward appearance of Jesse's eldest son. But God reminded him, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
How often do we make snap judgments based on surface-level information? We must learn to resist the urge to go with our "gut instinct" and instead seek God's wisdom. He sees the full story of every person – their character, motivations, and potential.
The Marks of 'Today's Man' (or Woman)
Samuel's story exemplifies two key characteristics of someone who remains spiritually relevant and effective:
1. Communion with God: Building intentional sacred space to hear from God, receive His comfort, and align our hearts with His truth.
2. Obedience to God's Word: Having the courage to follow God's direction, even when it's difficult or doesn't make sense from our limited perspective.
These practices require both intentionality and courage. They often mean stepping out alone, trusting God's viewpoint over our own, and being willing to go against the cultural current.
A Fresh Anointing
The beautiful result of this lifestyle is seen in the moment Samuel finally anoints David as the future king. The scripture tells us, "The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on." This fresh anointing of God's Spirit is available to us as well when we prioritize communion and obedience.
Living as 'today's man or woman' doesn't mean constantly chasing the latest trends or reinventing ourselves. Instead, it means staying deeply connected to the timeless God who makes us relevant for every season. By building sacred space for communion and courageously obeying His voice, we position ourselves to be used by God in powerful ways.
In a world of uncertainty, let us be people who sink our roots deep into God's presence. May we have the courage to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening," and then boldly follow where He leads. As we do, we'll discover a fresh anointing of His Spirit, equipping us to face whatever challenges come our way.
In a world of constant change and uncertainty, how can we remain relevant and spiritually vibrant? The story of Samuel, a prophet in ancient Israel, offers profound insights into this question. His life exemplifies two crucial practices that can help us navigate our own spiritual journeys: communion with God and obedience to His word.
Communion with God: Building Sacred Space
When life overwhelms us with grief, uncertainty, or fear, our natural inclination might be to seek more information or distract ourselves with activity. However, the true solution lies in building sacred space – intentional time set aside for deep communion with God.
In uncertain times, whether facing global crises, national unrest, or personal struggles, we must sink our roots deeper into our relationship with Jesus. Like a tree seeking water during a drought, we need to tap into the living water that sustains us through desert seasons.
Building this sacred space requires intentionality. Our busy lives often become the enemy of genuine communion with God. We must set aside time, giving God our full attention – listening for His voice, receiving reassurance from His promises, and even accepting course correction for misaligned thoughts and feelings.
This practice of communion isn't just a nice addition to our spiritual lives; it's essential. We cannot bear the fruit of peace unless we ourselves are at peace. We can't give what we don't have. By pausing our hectic schedules to listen for God's comfort, correction, and instruction, we find rest in His presence and receive His guidance.
Obedience: Courage to Follow God's Call
While communion with God requires intentionality, obeying His word often demands courage. Samuel's life illustrates this beautifully. When God called him to anoint a new king while the current (and volatile) King Saul was still on the throne, Samuel was understandably afraid. "How can I do that?" he asked. "If Saul hears about it, he'll kill me!"
This highlights an important truth: A God-sized problem requires a God-sized solution. We should never feel completely capable of what God calls us to do. Our inadequacy should drive us to lean more heavily on the Holy Spirit's anointing, not become an excuse for inaction.
The degree of courage required to say "yes" to God often indicates how much we need to rely on Him. Throughout scripture, we see examples of individuals who stepped out in faith – Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Elijah – men and women who had the courage to stand alone against cultural tides and declare God's truth even when it was unpopular or dangerous.
Recognizing God's Voice
Obeying God starts with recognizing His voice. Samuel's early training in the tabernacle prepared him for a lifetime of hearing and responding to God. As a young boy, he learned to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." This simple yet profound statement should be our own heart's posture.
The more we position ourselves to listen, the more likely we are to hear God's voice. This requires intentionally quieting the noise of our lives – silencing our own thoughts, turning off distractions, and creating space to truly hear. God speaks not just through formal teaching or dramatic experiences, but often in subtle ways as we attune our hearts to Him.
Trusting God's Perspective
Obedience also means trusting God's perspective over our limited point of view. When Samuel went to anoint the new king, he was initially impressed by the outward appearance of Jesse's eldest son. But God reminded him, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
How often do we make snap judgments based on surface-level information? We must learn to resist the urge to go with our "gut instinct" and instead seek God's wisdom. He sees the full story of every person – their character, motivations, and potential.
The Marks of 'Today's Man' (or Woman)
Samuel's story exemplifies two key characteristics of someone who remains spiritually relevant and effective:
1. Communion with God: Building intentional sacred space to hear from God, receive His comfort, and align our hearts with His truth.
2. Obedience to God's Word: Having the courage to follow God's direction, even when it's difficult or doesn't make sense from our limited perspective.
These practices require both intentionality and courage. They often mean stepping out alone, trusting God's viewpoint over our own, and being willing to go against the cultural current.
A Fresh Anointing
The beautiful result of this lifestyle is seen in the moment Samuel finally anoints David as the future king. The scripture tells us, "The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on." This fresh anointing of God's Spirit is available to us as well when we prioritize communion and obedience.
Living as 'today's man or woman' doesn't mean constantly chasing the latest trends or reinventing ourselves. Instead, it means staying deeply connected to the timeless God who makes us relevant for every season. By building sacred space for communion and courageously obeying His voice, we position ourselves to be used by God in powerful ways.
In a world of uncertainty, let us be people who sink our roots deep into God's presence. May we have the courage to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening," and then boldly follow where He leads. As we do, we'll discover a fresh anointing of His Spirit, equipping us to face whatever challenges come our way.
Recent
Archive
2025
May
No Comments