11 SEPTEMBER

SERVICE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE

“Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.”  (1 Samuel 3:7, NKJV)

Hannah, Samuel’s mother had brought him to the temple to serve God, after he was weaned, in fulfilment of her promise to God, when she prayed for a son. Samuel diligently ministered to the Lord before the Priest, Eli. He was always busy in service but he did not have a personal relationship with or knowledge of God.

Jesus says in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.” Samuel knew the voice of Eli and followed him. Whose voice do you know–God’s or your pastor’s?

Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, said: “That I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10). How much more should we cry out each day: That I may know You, Lord!

Are you diligently serving in the house of God but do not know God’s voice? God chose to speak to Samuel and not Eli. God is speaking to each of us in this dispensation of grace. Service without knowledge and revelation is like faith without works, which is dead. Knowledge and revelation give understanding, leading to right obedience and acceptable service of faith, manifested in works.

ACTION: Examine your service to God. Is it based on knowledge and true relationship with Him?

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to know and serve you more.