1 Samuel 1:21-28
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”
“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah[d] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Devotion
The story of the birth and calling of Samuel illustrates the power of positive influence. In the first two chapters of First Samuel, we get a glimpse into the heart of a godly woman by the name of Hannah. After not being able to conceive, she poured out her heart to the Lord at Shiloh (see verse 1:10). She vowed that if the Lord would give her a son, she would “give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.” Basically, she was saying that if the Lord would bless her with a son, she would give him back to the Lord to serve Him all the days of his life. This shows you the depth of her faith and commitment to God. Her prayer recorded in the opening verses of chapter two also illustrate the depth of her spiritual maturity.
God blesses Hannah with a son, and she names him Samuel. The name Samuel means “heard of God.” She raised Samuel for approximately three years before entrusting him to the guardianship of Eli the priest at Shiloh. As the story unfolds, we discover that Samuel is able to resist the evil influence of Eli and his wicked sons. Somehow, Samuel is immune to the negative influence of Eli and his sons. Most people believe it was the positive influence of a godly mother that prepared Samuel for such a time as this.
Once again, this illustrates the power of positive influence. What does this have to do with the evil of racism? I believe that all education begins in the home. If we want our children to embrace certain values, then we must be intentional when it comes to positively influencing our children during their formative years. Racism is a mindset that is passed on from one generation to the next. In order for there to be real change regarding the issue of racism, it must begin in the home. We must have these conversations with our children and share God’s heart with them concerning the evils of racism. During their formative years (birth – age 8), parents have the most influence in the lives of their children. If we want this evil to truly end, it begins in our homes and hearts.
Questions to Ponder:
What positive influences have shaped your worldview? Do you have meaningful conversations with your children? Do you recognize your spheres of influence? How has the story of Hannah and Samuel impacted you today?
Prayer Points
- Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for Jesus Christ, for your own parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers, pastors, mentors or friends who have helped shape your worldview.
- Ask God to touch the people who have influenced you.
- Ask God to show you people whom you could disciple, mentor or be a friend to for the purpose of helping them look more like Jesus.
- Pray back to God something that is really hard for you right now, just like Hannah wept bitterly before the Lord.
Suggested Prayer
Father in heaven, You are all knowing, all powerful, majestic, holy, and glorious. You are acquainted with all of my ways. Thank You for being such faithful friend who won’t mock me, make fun of me, talk behind my back or have wrong attitudes towards me. Thank You Lord for always being honest and trustworthy and having my best interest at hand.
Thank You for the story of Hannah who knew what it was like to struggle but experience Your grace and presence in the midst of her struggle. Thank You Lord that You saw her heart. You heard her prayer and the prayer of Eli. You not only blessed her out of her bitter prayer, but You did exceedingly abundantly more by blessing her with 5 more children and blessing the Israelite nation with Samuel.
Oh Father, grant me and Your church the ability to have the kind of impact that Eli had on Samuel. Help me to be an influence of change for the coming generations. Please put younger people in my life who I can lead in a discipling relationship. Thank You for the different people who have shaped me. I ask that You bless them now. I pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.