Scripture:
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-21
Fri, 26 August 2022

Serve with a Heart of Attentiveness

Observation:

How did Samuel grow in hearing and serving God?

Deeper Reflection
FROM A YOUNG AGE, SAMUEL LEARNT TO BE ATTENTIVE to the voice of God and the Word of God (vv.1-10). After initial guidance by Eli the priest, Samuel grew through walking with God and becoming familiar with His presence (vv.19-20). Over time, God spoke to Samuel and to the people of Israel through him, and God established Samuel’s ministry.Learning to discern God’s voice is a process. Initially, like Samuel, we may not realise that the Lord is speaking to us. We may miss hearing God calling us to service, or revealing insights to situations around us, or guiding us in particular actions to take. So long as we learn from our mistakes, God will give us further opportunities. We learn by making continual efforts to put ourselves in a position of attentiveness to hear from God through His Word and by His Spirit. The words “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (v.9) are not a prayer formula, but rather reflect the posture of a heart of attentiveness. This presupposes that the worshipper wants to hear from God, is submitted to His will and committed to act upon what He would say. A person who is prayerful with an attentive heart to God will certainly hear from Him and, very importantly, obey what He says. All of us are on a journey – some people are ahead of us with more experience of hearing and serving the Lord, others are behind us. Let us help one another and all grow in discerning God’s voice and doing God’s will. Whatever the Lord says to us, we will do.
Application:

How can I learn to better hear God and serve Him?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To grow in discerning God’s voice and doing God’s will
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:17, 25-31; 6:1-2
Mon, 5 June 2023

Serving from Babylon to Persia

Observation:

What is the significance of Daniel serving in the Babylonian and Persian
courts successively?

Deeper Reflection
God’s word to Belshazzar that He would “put an end” to his kingdom and give it “over to the Medes and Persians” was fulfilled immediately – “that same night” (v.30) – after Daniel’s interpretation of the inscription on the wall (vv.25-31). God can fulfil His Word immediately or after a long time. Whatever time God may take to fulfil His Word, He is “trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does” (Psa 145:13b, NIV).The demise of the Babylonian hegemony was not just a historical event, but primarily a theological one. Nebuchadnezzar was “My servant” whom God raised to judge His unfaithful people in the seventy-year Babylonian exile (Jer 25:8-9, 11). When God had accomplished His purpose through Babylon, “I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation” (Jer 25:12). This is how God deals with arrogant and evil nations: “And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (Isa 13:19).The end of Babylon does not mean an insecure future for Daniel. However drastically our circumstances may change, God’s call for our lives remains when we walk with Him faithfully. We are secure in God’s call, because it is God’s call. Daniel became one of “the three commissioners” in Persia (Dan 6:1-2). It wasn’t that having lost his job Daniel applied to serve the Persian king. Daniel couldn’t do that. It was purely by royal appointment. But behind the “It seemed good to Darius to appoint” (Dan 6:1) was God’s call for Daniel to serve Him from Babylon to Persia.
Application:

How do I relate God’s call for me in drastic changes of my life situations?

Prayer:
Lord, I believe You have a calling for my life which You have intended to be distinctive for me. I want to live my life with a deep sense of answering Your calling. Help me to walk with You faithfully, knowing that as I do so, You will unfold Your plans for me in that calling. Grant me wisdom and understanding to discern Your calling for my life.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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