Speak, for Your Servant Is Listening

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Spirit of Truth

1 Samuel 3:1-10  The Message

“Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen”

3 ^1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.

^4-5 Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.
^6-7 God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)
^8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.
¹⁰ Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

 

For Reflection

 You have seen.  You have heard.  You have witnessed the result of Godlessness.  You have witnessed a righteous life in the hollow of God's hand.  You have heard the call.

Pray

Here am I Lord.  I'm your servant, ready to listen.

The Lord Has Closed Your Eyes

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Spirit of Truth

Isaiah 29:8-14  The Message

^5-8 But it will be your enemies who are beaten to dust,
    the mob of tyrants who will be blown away like chaff.
Because, surprise, as if out of nowhere,
    a visit from God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
With thunderclaps, earthquakes, and earsplitting noise,
    backed up by hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning strikes,
And the mob of enemies at war with Ariel,
    all who trouble and hassle and torment her,
    will turn out to be a bad dream, a nightmare.
Like a hungry man dreaming he’s eating steak
    and wakes up hungry as ever,
Like a thirsty woman dreaming she’s drinking iced tea
    and wakes up thirsty as ever,
So that mob of nations at war against Mount Zion
    will wake up and find they haven’t shot an arrow,
    haven’t killed a single soul.

^9-10 Drug yourselves so you feel nothing.
    Blind yourselves so you see nothing.
Get drunk, but not on wine.
    Black out, but not from whiskey.
For God has rocked you into a deep, deep sleep,
    put the discerning prophets to sleep,
    put the farsighted seers to sleep.

You Have Everything Backward

^11-12 What you’ve been shown here is somewhat like a letter in a sealed envelope. If you give it to someone who can read and tell her, “Read this,” she’ll say, “I can’t. The envelope is sealed.” And if you give it to someone who can’t read and tell him, “Read this,” he’ll say, “I can’t read.”

^13-14 The Master said:

“These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
    but their hearts aren’t in it.
Because they act like they’re worshiping me
    but don’t mean it,
I’m going to step in and shock them awake,
    astonish them, stand them on their ears.
The wise ones who had it all figured out
    will be exposed as fools.
The smart people who thought they knew everything
    will turn out to know nothing.”

 

For Reflection

 Are we asleep?  Have we not heard?  Have we not seen?  Have we not felt the injustice of a Godless existence?  Have we not seen the consequence of impoverishment?  Have we not witnessed the terror of spiritual drunkenness?

It is as though the Book has never been read!

Pray

for those who cannot see.  Pray for those who see and yet perform spiritual hypocrisy.  Pray for those who despise God's province.  Pray for mercy and for the grace of God.

Where There Is No Prophecy

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Spirit of Truth

Proverbs 29:12-18  The Message

¹² When a leader listens to malicious gossip,
    all the workers get infected with evil.

¹³ The poor and their abusers have at least something in common:
    they can both see—their sight, God’s gift!

¹⁴ Leadership gains authority and respect
    when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.

¹⁵ Wise discipline imparts wisdom;
    spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.

¹⁶ When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild,
    but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.

¹⁷ Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—
    they’ll turn out delightful to live with.

¹⁸ If people can’t see what God is doing,
    they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
    they are most blessed.

For Reflection
It is truly amazing!  Think about how long ago these passages were written.  And yet, they could have been written yesterday!  Truths which can not be denied and yet which are ignored and ridiculed by those whose power is a feebly masked weakness.  We muck about like spoiled adolescents, grabbing for the spoils rather than creating a compassionate and just world.  We act as though those who are displaced are blind to our role in their victimization.

Domination systems are destined to collapse.  What is disturbing is that another domination system is waiting to replace it.   End the cycle!  Attend to what God has revealed to us and have the courage to engage in God's Kingdom.

Pray

for those that see what God is doing.  Pray for courage to follow God's lead.  Pray for those who can not see the folly of Godlessness.

When the Advocate Comes

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Jesus Promises an Advocate

John 15:18-27  The Message

^18-19 “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.

²⁰ “When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.
^21-25 “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’
^26-27 “When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start.”

For Reflection

  Lets face it squarely.  Godlessness and Evil inhabit the world.  We see it every day; racism, favored injustice, allegiance to the wealthy or most popular at the expense of others, self-absorption, psychopaths, who make killing a religion.

The only real solution is to fill the world with God fearing people who act with compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and have a preference for justice and peace.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for the living God, found in Jesus Christ.   Pray so that you remain in an intimate relationship with Christ.  Pray that you will emulate the living Christ.

When the Advocate Comes

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Jesus Promises an Advocate

John 15:18-27  The Message

^18-19 “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.

²⁰ “When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.
^21-25 “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’
^26-27 “When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start.”

For Reflection

 Lets face it squarely.  Godlessness and Evil inhabit the world.  We see it every day; racism, favored injustice, allegiance to the wealthy or most popular at the expense of others, self-absorption, psychopaths, who make killing a religion.

The only real solution is to fill the world with God fearing people who act with compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and have a preference for justice and peace.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for the living God, found in Jesus Christ.   Pray so that you remain in an intimate relationship with Christ.  Pray that you will emulate the living Christ.

The Shepherd's Comfort

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Jesus Promises an Advocate

Psalm 23  The Message

A David Psalm

23 ^1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

⁴ Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.

⁵ You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.

⁶ Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.

 

For Reflection

 Sometimes reading an unfamiliar translation of a familiar passage is strange.  But, making the familiar, strange, is sometimes useful.  After the shock of the transformation subsides, what have you seen in this familiar passage that is new or understood in a new way?
 
Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for the living God.  Thank God for Gods abiding protection.  Praise God for providing your needs.  Praise God for the comfort found in God's household.

This Is My Comfort

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Jesus Promises an Advocate

Psalm 119:49-64  The Message

^49-56 Remember what you said to me, your servant—
    I hang on to these words for dear life!
These words hold me up in bad times;
    yes, your promises rejuvenate me.
The insolent ridicule me without mercy,
    but I don’t budge from your revelation.
I watch for your ancient landmark words,
    and know I’m on the right track.
But when I see the wicked ignore your directions,
    I’m beside myself with anger.
I set your instructions to music
    and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way.
I meditate on your name all night, God,
    treasuring your revelation, O God.
Still, I walk through a rain of derision
    because I live by your Word and counsel.

^57-64 Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise
    to do everything you say.
I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile,
    be gracious to me just as you promised.
When I took a long, careful look at your ways,
    I got my feet back on the trail you blazed.
I was up at once, didn’t drag my feet,
    was quick to follow your orders.
The wicked hemmed me in—there was no way out—
    but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me.
I get up in the middle of the night to thank you;
    your decisions are so right, so true—I can’t wait till morning!
I’m a friend and companion of all who fear you,
    of those committed to living by your rules.
Your love, God, fills the earth!
    Train me to live by your counsel.

For Reflection

 What about your faith gives you the most comfort?  When you are confronting difficulty, what do you remember that gives you strength?  What is the mark of God's love and promise in your life?

Pray

"Train me to live by your counsel."  Pray for your friends who support your faith.  Pray that you will never forget God's Plan for your life.