To be raised up for God.

"Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind..." (1 Samuel 2:35).

Are we living as one whom God will raise up? Do we know what is in the heart and mind of God? Are we spending the time in prayer and the Word to hear His voice? Do we truly know the Lord? As we read through 1 Samuel chapter 2 we see that Eli's sons did not know the Lord. They saw their position as priests as a means to earn a living and satisfy their fleshly desires. They demanded the best for themselves. leaving the second best for God. Their actions caused the men of Israel to abhor the offering of the Lord and so their sin was very great before the Lord (Vs 17).

Down through the centuries the office of pastor or minister has likewise been used by many as their means of support, their occupation, their career; as a way to gain power, wealth and position. The focus so easily becomes "how can this meet my needs". God delights to meet our needs but He calls us to be focused on seeking first His kingdom, not seeking first the meeting of our needs. To take up our cross daily and follow Christ, die to self in serving a holy God and giving our all, our best, to Him.

God's judgment on Eli and his sons was severe. Although Eli rebuked his sons for their sin he did not want them to suffer the loss of their position and means of support and so failed to remove them from being priests before God - thus he was guilty of honoring his sons more than God and so partook in their sins and their judgment (vs29). God declares" those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (Vs 30). Even our love for our family can not be put before our honoring of God. Samuel honored God, revered Him as holy, listened to and obeyed His voice "so Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Bathsheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord ... for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord" (3:19-21).

As God has revealed Himself to us let us keep well away from the ways of Eli's sons, and even from Eli's sin of honoring our loved ones more than God. May we instead follow Samuel's example of walking with God and speaking His word - of being a faithful minister who shall do according to what is in God's heart and God's mind.

To be raised up for God.

Prayer:
Holy Father, may Your name be honored above all else. Teach me to do according to what is in Your heart and Your mind. Jesus, our great high priest, did only that which He saw the Father doing - He is both my example and the One who lives in me, empowering me by the Holy Spirit, to likewise know, love and obey You. May Your will be done through my life. I choose to lay all down that I may follow You, for You alone are worthy and Yours is the power and the glory forever, amen.