Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 1:21-4:22
My selection: I Samuel 2:25b
But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
My reflections: People cannot repent without the grace of God in regeneration. Eli could confront his sons. He could plead with his sons. He could reason with them but he could not cause them to repent and they would not repent because they COULD not repent. Eli was powerless to change them and they were powerless to avoid the path of destruction they had chosen. Yet God uses means and, in the case of Jonah, He chose to use a resentful prophet to turn the hearts of the pagan people of Nineveh to Himself. Lesson one: proclaim the gospel which includes both law and grace but know that the results of your proclamation are in God’s hands.
The godly understand and accept that God is sovereign in repentance and, thus, in salvation. Eli, for all his failings, was quick to say to Samuel, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.” (I Samuel 3:17b). Lesson two: give praise to God that His secret purposes in the life of every person will be completed for His glory.
My challenge: Proclaim the gospel diligently to the lost. Trust God to work in the hearts of those to whom you proclaim it. Accept that God is glorified in both saving sinners and judging sinners.
Holy God, may I be consumed with Your glory so that I proclaim the gospel faithfully but trust You completely to do Your will in the hearts of those I love.
Tomorrow’s reading: 1 Samuel 5:1-8:22
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