DEVOTION – DAY 214

1 Samuel 1:21-22 “Honoring God”

1 Sam.1:21-22 “When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord and he will live there always.”

The background to these verses was that Hannah was unable to bear children. She was very sad because she had no children so she prayed to the Lord. God heard her cries and answered her prayers. Soon, Hannah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son whom she named, Samuel. In the above verses, Hannah’s husband, Elkanah wanted to take his family to offer his annual sacrifice to the Lord as he prayed for God’s blessings for good harvests. Hannah told Elkanah that since God had blessed them with the birth of Samuel, she intended to offer her son, Samuel to serve the Lord when he no longer needed to be breastfed by her. Hannah wanted to honor God because God had honored her with the birth of her son, Samuel.

I know someone who suffered an injury and almost died. But the Lord intervened and he survived. This man knew that he owed a big debt to the Lord. When the Lord called him to serve, he could not refuse the Lord. He gave up his job and career and devoted his life to serving the Lord. Like Hannah, he never regretted his decision to honor the Lord by sacrificing what was most precious – his job and career. This man confessed that his decision was not easy. He has to constantly depend on God’s provision as his income is solely relying on the generosity and giving of Christians who support his ministries. But God is faithful and he never lacked for anything. He may not be the most gifted servant of God but God could use him for His purposes and this man gives God all the glory. Because he is not naturally gifted, but when he is able to do amazing things for God, all can see that it is the power of God and this man was just God’s instrument.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you for you have been so good to us. You have given us Your only Son, to save us from the penalty for our sins. You have given us the Bible as our daily guide. You have showered us with your love, your peace, your presence, your protection. Help us to honor and love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. In the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Questions

  1. How has God been good to you? How has He honored you? Share.
  2. How have you honored and served the Lord in return? If you realized you have not been serving Him as you should, what should you be doing to correct this?
  3. How can you show your love to God this week?