Last updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 01:23 am
Read
1 Samuel 1:19-28
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
Reflect
God remembers our supplications. What matters to us matters to Him. Not because He is worried about it, but because He cares for us. He remembered Hannah and gave her the child she asked for. Hannah cherished the blessing God gave her but remembered her promise and did not let the blessing (Samuel) take precedence over the blesser (God). In verse 26 and verse 27, Hannah lets Eli know that Samuel is the child she prayed for. She gave testimony to God’s provision to the people around her. Do you give testimony to God’s provision in your life? It’s easy to get distracted and enamored by the blessings that God gives. Our earthly sight often overtakes our spiritual sight, and we find ourselves more focused on the creation rather than the Creator.
Remember
“Lent” implies lifelong servitude. Hannah gave her blessing back to God. In giving the blessing back for the service of God, she gave God Glory and praise. I need to give my blessings back to God. I need to use the talents and things he’s blessed me with to glorify Him. Ask yourself. “Is my level of commitment strong enough to where I’d give my child?” Is your level of commitment strong enough that you’d get up 30 minutes earlier to have some focused Bible time? ?Are you strong enough in your faith that you’d seek opportunities to serve in your local church? Is it strong enough that you wouldn’t snicker when one of the guys cracks a filthy joke?
Really, all these questions point to one central idea – Am I glorifying God with what he has given me? God has given us each the ability to speak, move, and live as an example for him. The avenues may be different, but the purpose is the same. Magnify Him. Hannah was willing to give God back the son He gave her in order to honor Him. What blessing are you willing to give back? And, no, you don’t have to take all the money that God has given you and burn it as a display of your love for Him, You don’t need to go sell the car that God has blessed you with to give food to the homeless. When you give the blessing back, you simply resolve within yourself to use it for God’s glory rather than your own. Maybe that means you take a portion of your monetary funds and use it to sponsor a child going to a Christian summer camp for a week. Or maybe you take that car that God has blessed you with and pick up a shut-in to go grocery shopping with one morning.
If you seek the Lord, he will give you the opportunity and the ability. Simply ask Him. God, how can I give this blessing back in glory and honor to You?
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