And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.

Good morning! Here is today’s word of blessings for you.
1 Samuel 2:18-26

18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. 22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. 26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.


Today’s title is “Growing In Favor with The Lord”

Samuel was born at the time of “the Judges”. It was one of the worst times in the history of Israel in terms of spiritual and moral corruption. It was the time when people did whatever fit their eyes. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 21:25). We have seen enough terrible things that can happen when everyone did as they saw fit in the book of Judges. There were countless unthinkable acts of evil and mass killings from the conflicts between brethren. We see such acts of evil happening very close to young Samuel. The two sons of Eli were sinning against the Lord. They even slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. But old Eli couldn’t stop their sons from such acts of evil. Any concerned parent may ask “What can young Samuel learn in such a terrible spiritual environment?” True! It was the worst environment under which any young boy may grow. Still, today’s passage says, “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.” How could that happen? That’s the grace of God. That’s the power of God. It is true that we are heavily influenced by the physical and spiritual environment under which we live. The children will be more so. But if anyone lives in God’s special favor, we can overcome and survive even the worst spiritual environment. The beautiful life of Ruth and Boaz recorded in the book of Ruth also attests to it. We are living in a terrible time as bad as in Samuel’s time if not worse. Our children are under constant threat of evil influences. Schools and governments are openly hostile to the Christian way of life. They legalized many acts of evil that used to be firmly prohibited in the community. We Christians seemed to be cornered and are about to be pushed away. What can we do? Do we have to be just left with a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness as we encounter such an obnoxious and poisonous environment every day? Absolutely not! We should make every effort to help our children to grow in favor of God as young Samuel did. Perhaps, they can save our time as Samuel did in his era.