THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:17,18

Knowing the Lord was the difference between Samuel and Eli’s sons. 1 Samuel 2:17,18 states, “Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.” Verses 17,18 draw a clear distinction between Eli’s sons and Samuel in their choices to serve self, versus serving God. Eli’s sons chose to serve self. Samuel chose to deny self and serve God and obey Him for the sake of his nation. If there is one thing American history demonstrates, it is generations of believers who chose to deny self and serve God. For those in every generation who choose this path, the exploits of a Samuel await. Choosing to know the Lord by doing His Word developed a relationship that moves God’s Hand through prayer. Because Samuel by his obedience chose a lifestyle free from corruption, he brought a very different level of justice to the priesthood and to the congregation of believers in his day. Do we want to make this kind of a difference?