Grow Up to be a Child Part 2 “Childlike Listening” THRIVE Service Livestream

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

 

So, Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God,” which explains why so many of us have a difficult time hearing God. Life is busy, noisy, and chaotic. Most of us have a hard time being still much less hearing the voice of God.

Children have a special ability to hear God’s voice and sense God’s presence. Adults not so much. Eli’s the old Priest. He’s spent his whole professional career talking for God, yet he’s reached a stage in his life where he can no longer hear God’s voice. Ironic, isn’t it?

But contrast that with Samuel. Samuel is a child. But he’s the one, not the old Priest Eli, who clearly hears the voice of God calling him.

“Unless you become like a child…” Jesus says.

If it’s been way too long since you’ve heard God calling your name, maybe the problem is not with your ears or your diminished ability to hear.

Maybe the problem is we grew up and forgot what it was like to be a child.

There’s nothing wrong with our ears. The real problem is our hearts.