Wednesday, March 19
Scripture: 1 Samuel 1-3, Psalm 78
In 1 Samuel 1-3, Faithfulness carries Hannah’s story, Eli’s story, Samuel’s story, and Godstory. This is seen in Hannah’s faithfulness in praying, then dedicating Samuel to God, in Eli’s faithfulness to God through the disobedience of his sons, in Samuel's faithfulness to God as a child, and finally in God’s faithfulness to each of them.
Unable to have children Hannah pleaded with God and promised God to pledge her child to him. When God, faithful as he is gave her a son she dedicated him to the Lord. God blessed Hannah with even more children because of her faithfulness. Hannah was faithful. God is faithful.
Eli’s sons were ‘scoundrels’ yet Eli trusted whatever God was doing with them, saying to Samuel “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes”. Eli was faithful. God is faithful.
Even while others around him were not faithful, Samuel ministered to the people before the Lord. When Samuel heard God’s voice he said: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel was faithful. And once again, God is faithful.
As Hannah was faithful in prayer and praise, as Eli was faithful in trust and teaching, and as Samuel was faithful in obedience and ministry, we are prompted to be faithful in our own life. By faithfully dedicating our time, money, schedules, relationships, everything to God and trusting him with those things, he will be faithful to us through those things. These things we dedicate to God will come to fruition and bring more glory to God, just as Hannah’s faithfulness with Samuel brought a faithful prophet and servant.
Like Eli’s sons, it is easy to ignore God’s constant faithfulness; Jesus literally died on the cross for us, let’s live like it! We are called to be faithful and turn from our sins to the miracles that are in our everyday lives.
As we start or conclude our Wednesday I pray that we see God’s faithful mundane miracles in the beauty right in front of our eyes. And I pray that through that, we are able to faithfully dedicate our everything, our full lives to Him, trusting Him to do His will and work with them. Amen
~Eden Kleinfeld
Daily Prayer Focus: Hospitals and nursing homes: patients, residents and staff