GOD CALLS

by Sister Loretta Finn

Most of us at one time or another have received a word or a call from God and we were unaware of it.   It may have been in a time of personal crisis, at a retreat or during prayer time. 

In the Old Testament we read about Samuel’s call. (Samuel 3:1-14, 19-21.) As a child, Samuel served at the tabernacle, ministering to God with the priest Eli. He was a faithful young servant who had God's favor. One night God spoke to Samuel while he was sleeping, and the boy mistook the Lord's voice for Eli's. This happened three times until the old priest realized God was speaking to Samuel.

Now Samuel did not yet really know the Lord.  But, when the Lord called the third time, Samuel again went to Eli  and said, “Here am I; for thou didst call me.” And Eli perceived that the LORD had called Samuel. So, Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down.  If he calls you again, say: “ Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” So Samuel went and lay down. And the LORD came again and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel answered, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

 

As with Samuel, we sometimes struggle with a call from God, sometimes with discerning the exact origin of this call, inclination, or overwhelming sense of direction.  We also probably are aware of times when a call came, and we ignored it or were not ready to receive it.

Just as the call came to Samuel, so it comes to us, for several reasons, in many ways. Are we ready to hear it? Are we willing to respond?