The child Samuel was born as an answer to his mother’s prayer. She wanted a child so badly, and up to the time of her petition she had not become pregnant. God, in His kindness, blessed her with a son, Samuel. When he was very young, she took him back to the Temple to live and serve with Eli, the priest.
Unfortunately, the priest and his sons were not wholesome, and either allowed or lived in sin. Imagine growing up under those circumstances!
Samuel was distanced from his parents, and was among those who thought sinful choices were not going against a Holy God. Although he did not have a good influence in his life during this time, he did have God’s truth embedded in his heart—embedded in the very core of who he was. Therefore, this truth was able to propel him in what he did.
It was through all of the circumstances that came his way that Samuel was molded and shaped into the man God wanted him to be. It was not that he was kept from wrong or that he had a wonderful upbringing that made him the man that God used in the Old Testament; rather, it was the obstacles and difficulties that he lived above that made him a man able to lead, to counsel, and to direct a nation for God’s kingdom use.
Always consider God’s truths as the resource and reason for holy living, not the influences and lifestyles around you. A person may not have the proper influences on him or observe correct behavior, yet through God’s truths, he can live for His glory, just like Samuel did!
- Are you endeavoring to nurture your children in a God-fearing, Christ-exalting, right-living environment?
- Suggest the one most significant area of vulnerability that your children may be exposed to.
- Distanced from his parents, it is remarkable that Samuel grew up fearing the Lord. Does this encourage you, as much as you strive to be a good parent, to know that God is able to overrule matters when you mess up?
- What can you do to build a consistently biblically informed values system into your children’s lives?
- Join the conversation; I’d love to hear from you!
