Gospel Reading Plan: Luke 9-10
Praying Men
Read: 1 Samuel 15
Yesterday we focused on the prayers of Hannah as she longingly prayed
for a child. Samuel was the miracle
child given to Hannah, who grew up to be a great prophet, serving the Lord
faithfully. Samuel heard the Lord’s
voice at a young age. Would a worldly home, with worldly surroundings,
separated from the church, with a worldly mother have produced a praying man
such as Samuel? Would such influences in early life have produced such a
praying man? Samuel knew God in boyhood
and as a result he knew God in manhood.
He recognized God in childhood, obeyed and prayed. The result was that he recognized God in
adulthood, obeyed and prayed. If more
children were born of praying mothers, brought up in direct contact with
praying churches, and reared under a praying environments, more children would
hear the voice of God’s spirit speaking to them, and would more quickly respond
to the divine call of a religious life. If
we want praying people in our churches, we must have praying mothers to give
them birth, praying homes to color their lives, and praying surroundings to
impress their minds and to lay the foundations for praying lives. Praying “Samuel’s” come from praying “Hannah’s”. Praying ministers come from praying churches. Praying leaders come from praying homes. God raised up in Samuel a leader who could
pray, who knew the worth and the place of prayer and a leader who had the ear
of God. (Reference – E.M. Bounds).
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
- What is the importance of parents modelling spiritual disciplines for their children? What is the long term effect of this?
- Think about your own life, in what ways do you positively influence those around you? What about any negative influences?
- Ask the Lord to grow strong families in our church, families that are pursuing God and parents who are discipling their kids.
