In the Sermon: A boy named Samuel
All of this flow of text, how does this relate to the sermon? Good question. Here is the answer. The sermon was built on the experience of a little boy named Samuel. For biblical references, check out 1 Samuel 3: 1–21
The short version is this. Samuel was an apprentice in the temple in the Old Testament. He was learning the craft of becoming a priest. He did all he could to learn the roles of managing the temple. One particular night, when everyone had turned in for sleep, Samuel heard someone call his name. Being the obedient person that he was, he quickly rose to answer by rushing over to Elie’s room.
To both their surprise, Samuel was told he didn’t get called and to return back to bed. Wish there was a video available of the in-person live dramatization of this experience (yeah, I know, bad tease… or incentive for me to add video in the future?). Samuel returned to bed to sleep.
No one knows how much time elapsed but a second call was made and like the first time, Samuel rushed to answer. And like the first, was told to head back to bed. I can picture if his environment was anything like the one I grew up in, the tone of voice must have made it clear that a wayward imagination was a poor excuse for waking up a very tired working man from his sleep. Especially since there was no biological incentive to not be curt with words. However, let’s not digress.
Two things I highlighted in the sermon.
- The prophet did not recognize that the boy was being called by God. So, understand this, whatever your passion or calling is, not everyone around will understand. Not everyone will see why you’re making the decisions you’re making for your family. That doesn’t make you right or wrong, just not understood.
- Samuel was no deterred from trying to figure out who was calling him. He was willing to answer the call and find out what it was about. If you’re called to lead your family in a way that may not look conventional, have the courage to do what is right by them nevertheless. If you’re called to follow a conventional way of building your home and others don’t agree, have the courage to do what is right by your family.
In the end of the story, the prophet did recognize that God was calling Samuel and instructed him to answer directly to God. The ministry of Samuel started that night and he became one of the greatest prophets in biblical history. The point being, you have greatness to achieve and sometimes it takes a higher power to see that and call you into the greatness you’re to follow. God knows the end from the beginning and vice versa. Just listen.
Fine Print Moment
Before continuing with this post, let me just address one little thing. While the tone suggests that there is a call to much better, not all calls are for your life to get better. Sometimes the call is to take your life more seriously, or slow down and do less, or just check in and make sure you’re aware.
Calls come in all types of manners.
Sometime it’s that stress headache you want to check with a pain pill instead of realizing that it’s telling you that you’re not handling a situation well.
Other times it’s that feeling that there could be more meaning in your relationship with your spouse because you’re spending all of your energy at work or with the children at the expense of your spouse.
Balance may be the call you’re getting so that you don’t wear yourself out in the passion you’re already living.
Regular Print
I hope no one waits until they get a medical emergency to hear the call they’re getting all along. Waiting until it’s late or too late is not the ideal way to live a life. Take the time now, after reading this, to pause and reflect. Are you leading your family the way you’re supposed to lead? Are you teaching your dependents how to become the best version of themselves so that they’re the best citizens of the world they can be?
There is a call with your name on it.
