Devotional: Reverence Makes All The Difference

Only the call of God is eternal, meaningful and fruitful. Yet God distinguishes between people that He has called. When it comes to the call of God, reverence makes all the difference. In Samuel 2:12-18, and 26-35, we see a contrast between Eli’s household and Samuel. Both were called, but Eli’s household lost its call because they did not esteem and affectionately honor the Lord. Instead, they become corrupt. Yet God chose Samuel because he kept his reverence for the Lord. Reverence keeps you close to God in the midst of corruption, and gives you stature when the world needs stature. As children of God, reverence affirms our role as priests called to minister to the Lord Jesus Christ with our lives.

Questions For Meditation

1. God distinguishes between people that He calls just like He distinguished between Eli’s household and Samuel. Why does God distinguish? Based on what?
2. Eli’s sons had no regard for the Lord and treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. What does having no regard for the Lord mean?
3. Reverence is affectionate respect and awe for the Lord that results in spiritual, moral, and ethical wealth in the midst of God and his people. Have you ever sensed that your spiritual, moral, and ethical health and wealth was depleted? What does this passage attribute that depletion to?
4. We make ourselves what we are by the way we address God. How do you address God?
5. Reverence keeps you close to God in the midst of corruption. What forms of corruption have you seen in your own heart and in the world around you? What impact does reverence and closeness to God have on that corruption?
6. While Eli’s household became corrupt, Samuel continued to grow in stature and favor. What does this passage teach us to do in order to grow in stature and favor?
7. Our world needs priests who are called to minister to the Lord with our lives. What practical steps can you take to grow and maintain your reverence for God?