For His Glory - 9/27/08

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Devotional of the Week:

Romans 12:9 - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Our lives in Christ are rooted in doing all we can to emulate the life He lived. As the apostle Paul writes in this verse from the book of Romans, we have no mask to wear. We are to be sincere in our dealings with others and hide nothing. We are also called to "abhor evil". We are to avoid malice, hatred and bitterness because in none of these things is the love of Christ found. Our model for this is God the father who hates evil with a passion. In contrast we are to take hold of all that reflects and manifests the goodness and love of a holy God. We are to hold fast to it as if it were the most precious of possesions. We can love with the love of Christ and avoid evil as He did and above all, we are capable of clinging to all that is good in our world both physically and spiritually. We do this through the power of Christ and through the love and strength He gives us!

Prayer: Lord walk with us in this life You have given us. Protect us from that which is evil. Help us to love like You and to hate what You hate. Help us to cling tightly to that which is good, beginning with you Lord Jesus. Help us to rest in the promise You made, that You are with us always, even to the end of the age.

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Mini-Study of the Week:

1 Samuel Part 2> 1 Samuel 1:19-28

Last week, we met Hannah, a woman who prayed a devoted and sincere prayer. God would see to it that the prayer would be answered and through answering that prayer He would prepare for Himself a prophet to proclaim His word during a time of great development and progress for His people Israel.

In this week's verses we see the manifestation of that prayer. We see that Hannah gives birth to her son Samuel. His name is a basic but loving proclamation of the glory of God. Samuel, which means "Because I have asked for Him from the Lord" was a gift. A child where no child was possible. A promise both from God and to God as Hannah had committed the child before he was even conceived to a lifetime of serving the Lord God of Israel.

In fact in these verses we also see a loving and merciful God. When Elkanah, Hannah's husband goes up to give the yearly sacrifice she opts to not go. She states "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever." Hannah dedicated the first 3 years of Samuel's life to teaching him, loving him and guiding him to know, love and understand God. For three years she raised her child and when the time came she kept her promise, taking Samuel to Shiloh along with with her offerings knowing that the path he was about to begin would be a lifelong journey and one that would limit how often she would see him.

We see in the last line of Chapter 1 though that Samuel's guidance from Hannah bore fruit. In verses 27-28 she states "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. "Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." At the age of roughly three, Samuel is brought to Eli, the priest who years before had thought Hannah was intoxicated while praying. Now the child Hannah had prayed for was before him ready to serve God. We know this because the last line of chapter 1 states "So they worshiped the Lord there." "They" includes Samuel, who at the tender age of about 3 was already worshiping the Lord.

When we pray to God for anything, we must be ready to do as Hannah did and give it right back to the Lord, from whom all good things come. In spending the "weaning" years preparing Samuel for his eventual service to God, Hannah shows a faith and willingness to obey God. May that be our attitude when it comes to the things of God.

Next week we will take a look at one of the most beautiful moments in all of Scripture. In preparation for that, please read 1Samuel 2:1-10. I promise you will be blessed!

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Video of The Week:

"Stronger" - Hillsong

He is stronger than any of our struggles, He is stronger for we are weaker, He is stronger for He IS God...



Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!

In His Service,
Sergio