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Who's Calling?
Devotional for Sunday, July 20, 2008 by Anne Russell
1 Samuel 3:8-10 - The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (NIV)How many telephone calls do we receive in a day that have nothing to do with people we know? Often these calls can become annoying, as they either interrupt our field of thought or bring us a long way to answer the phone. For what?
These calls usually start off with something like this: "You have a chance to win a gift of money" -- or a cruise, because of something I supposedly filled out months ago! Or "Mrs. Russell, we have a great deal on cleaning ducts -- only ninety-nine dollars." Then again, "Do your windows need replacing? We are in your area today and could drop by and give you an estimate." On they go, continually interrupting our day.
These calls are from people we don't recognize, all asking things I am certain we really don't wish to have, nor do we wish to take the time to listen.
This and the Scripture for today brought to mind that God calls us. When He does, sometimes we don't recognize His voice. We might say: "Who's calling?" How is it that we don't recognize His voice? We need to answer His call, and act on what it is He wants us to do.
1 John 4:2 - This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (NIV)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, never let us be confused when it is You who calls us. Enable us to recognize Your voice as the Spirit who guides us to answer Your call. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Anne Russell <anbrussell@rogers.com>
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
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Today's Music:
I Love To Tell The Story.