Roll Call

That the Lord called Samuel; and he answered, Here am I. And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

God does call. He calls all of us by name just like Samuel. What is the call? It's the call to be saved--to be a follower of Jesus Christ. This old testament passage has modern day applications for us today, which must remind all of us that the Bible is a relevant book no matter the age in which we live in. God called Samuel distinctly by name. The Lord knows your name, where you are right now, and what's happening in your life. God was specific and Samuel responded, but went to Eli instead of the Lord. Many of us who have been attending church for the music or propriety have heard the called to become followers of Christ, yet have managed to run to other things that have little or nothing to do with salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

But the Lord called again for Samuel, showing His patience towards our missteps. When Samuel ran to Eli, Eli told the young lad that he didn't call him. He was commanded to lie down again. God will send us back to hear His voice when we totally miss his promptings. Yet we should always have a attentive ear to hear the call of the Spirit whether that be in church, through an evangelist, or reading word of God. Having a closed ear to God's voice is dangerous for any sinner. It means a life without the blessing of God and an eternity without him as well. Both are terrible to know and worse to never be freed from. It is the call of God that releases any sinner from the bondage of sin, and what a freedom it is to have power to live above that curse. You can with Jesus.

In verse seven we are told that Samuel did not even know the Lord. However God was calling the young lad beforehand. God calls sinners to repentance. We didn't know God or care to know Him, yet He continues His call today saying: "Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Today can be that day that you answer God: "Here am I." Samuel did it and Eli knew that the Lord was calling Him. We know that God is calling everyone of us. There is nothing to give the Lord; nothing to bargain with; only our wretched lives do we bring to Him saying, "Here am I. Save me, Lord." He will save you because God is true to His word.