Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It is indeed a joy to gather together in the house of the Lord, to bask in His presence, and to learn from His Word. Today, we have the privilege of turning our hearts and minds to the book of 1 Samuel, specifically chapter three, verses one through ten. This passage, my friends, is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom and guidance, a divine narrative that captures the essence of God's call and our response.

The eminent preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "To be a soul winner is the happiest thing in the world. And with every soul you bring to Jesus Christ, you seem to get a new heaven here upon earth." This sentiment, my dear friends, is not far from the heart of our message today. For as we will see, the call of God is not just a call to salvation, but also a call to service, a call to be soul winners for the kingdom of heaven.

Sensing the Special Selection

In the quiet stillness of the night, young Samuel was awakened by a voice. He assumed it was Eli, the priest he served under, calling him. But after the third time of being awakened and running to Eli, it became clear that it wasn't Eli who was calling him. It was the Lord. This was no ordinary call. It was a divine selection, a heavenly appointment. Samuel was being chosen by God for a specific purpose.

This divine selection wasn't random. It wasn't a lottery draw where Samuel just happened to be the lucky one. No, this was a purposeful choice by God. Samuel was chosen because God saw something in him, something that made him the perfect candidate for the task at hand. God saw his heart, his willingness to serve, his obedience. These were the qualities that made Samuel stand out, that made him the perfect choice for God's special assignment.

But it's important to note that Samuel didn't recognize God's voice at first. He thought it was Eli calling him. This is a crucial point because it shows us that recognizing God's call isn't always easy. It can be confusing, it can be mistaken for something else. But with guidance and discernment, we can learn to recognize God's voice, to distinguish it from all the other voices that clamor for our attention.

Eli played a crucial role in helping Samuel recognize God's voice. He was the one who realized that it was God calling Samuel. And he gave Samuel the advice he needed to respond to God's call. "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" Eli's guidance was instrumental in helping Samuel respond to God's call. It shows us the importance of having spiritual mentors in our lives, people who can guide us and help us discern God's voice.

Once Samuel recognized God's voice and responded to His call, his life was never the same. He went on to become one of the greatest prophets in Israel's history. He was instrumental in anointing both Saul and David as kings of Israel. His life was marked by his obedience to God's call. And it all started with that divine selection, that special call in the middle of the night.

So, what does this mean for us? It means that God has a special call for each of us. He has chosen us for a specific purpose, just like He chose Samuel. And just like Samuel, we may not recognize His voice at first. We may need the guidance of spiritual mentors to help us discern His voice. But once we recognize His voice and respond to His call, our lives will never be the same. We will be on a path of divine purpose, a path that leads to fulfilling God's plan for our lives.

So, let's be like Samuel. Let's be attentive to God's voice. Let's be willing to respond to His call. And let's be ready to fulfill the purpose for which He has chosen us. For in doing so, we will be living out our divine selection, our special call from God.

Submitting to the Sacred Summons

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