The story of the sons of Eli is a story of sadness. Eli a high priest of God fails to stop his sons from rebelling against God. Oh yes they stayed in the house of God but they didn’t follow any of the rules of the house. Their behavior caused the word of God to say they were worthless. If the word of God says you are worthless that bring a clear definition as to who you are severing. These sons were not serving God. They mistreated God’s people and their father didn’t stop them. Yet their father was used to bring up a man that would not walk away from God.
How can a man train up the son of another and miss the mark with his own? This is a story lived out daily around the world. You do not however need to go around the world to see it. You can look as close has the building you work in daily. You can even look in the church you attend every Sunday. Men today are missing the mark with our sons. There are too many sons in gangs while our son’s fathers are not in their lives. There are too many fathers fearful of their sons.
God had spoken of the judgment He would bring against the house of Eli. When God calls Samuel, Eli instructs Samuel to say; speak Lord for your servant is listening. Why didn’t Eli go to God and repent? Why not ask God to spare him? We will never know why but we can stop this from happening to our house. God did not speak much in those days but He is speaking today. We have a chance to turn our lives totally over to Him. We need not act perfect or try to get our lives together before God will work in them. All we need to do is ask God to come into our lives, if we haven’t and that's step one. If we have taken that step we need to ask God to help us become the man He wants us to become. Now ask God to place a man in your life that will help you take the steps you must take to overcome yourself. Hophni and Phinehas never knew God, therefore they never knew God had a purpose for their life. Today I say to you God has a purpose for your life. Are you walking it out or just living life for yourself? God knew when He call Samuel that He was about to judge the life of Eli and his house. Is God about to Judge your life?
I agree. I believe that we are not only missing the mark with immediate sons we are also missing the mark with potential sons that are close to us in proximity.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think the world in general (including the church) has become so busy and important that we have forgotten the importance of open arms.
I know that its important to understand that we should seek people to connect with to advance areas in our lives. However, I believe that's its also important for the would be mentors to seek boys to groom into men and men to groom into leaders. I don't think the only approach should be from the student to learn, I believe that some of the teachers need to offer their gift of experience and knowledge.