Confession. I’m an HGTV junkie. Fortunately, my family keeps me accountable. They contemplate intervention when my suppertime chatter starts to sound like, “Don’t you just love how the carrots ‘pop’ on that monochromatic plate of mashed potatoes and gravy?! ” They know it’s time when I make them close their eyes and I lead them to the table for the big reveal.
Aaah yes. The reveal. The best part of any home decorating show.
The entire episode depends on the big reveal.
I’ve been thinking about this business of ‘reveal’ lately. It was something I read in 1 Samuel. Most of us know the story of how God called Samuel, but how ’bout a quick recap?
Samuel, the young boy, (historians say he was probably around 12 years old-maybe a little older) served in the temple under the supervision of Eli. One night, God called Samuel. He called out his name three times. Each time Samuel thought it was Eli calling him.
Eli thought Samuel needed to get his act together and go back to bed. Finally, it dawned on Eli that God was calling Samuel. Samuel’s hearing didn’t require healing but his faith did require a revealing.
1 Samuel 3:7 says, “…(This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)”
Friends, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I read that! This verse was a reminder that…
The entire episode depends on the big reveal.
Samuel heard God three times but until he had a direct experience with God, Samuel wasn’t even sure who he was listening too!
Sweet DoAheads, I don’t want to get caught up in prayers that require certain words. I especially don’t want to arouse illegitimate concerns that we won’t pray “right”. But this ditty of scripture packed a punch I couldn’t ignore.
I’ve had kiddos at camps this week. Oh, how I’ve prayed they would listen and hear. Today God reminded me that FIRST He must draw near to them, without His direct presence the darlings may hear a voice, but they won’t recognize to whom it belongs to.
Samuel reminded me to pray that God would grace them with a direct and personal experience of Him because…
The entire episode depends on the big reveal.
Your DoAhead Friend,
Love this Cindy! So true. I had not noticed that verse before in that way. In our journey with our kids we also learned to pray that each one of them would have an encounter with Jesus so that they knew for themselves who was calling them.
Thanks for this insight.
Your prayers have been heard for your kids!
Jesus loves to reveal himself. May they have ears to hear and eyes to see.
Absolutely! Don’t you love the way new things jump out from scripture? His word is truly living and active!