Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

1 Samuel 3:1-9 (NRSV)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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Reflect

During the summer months, hundreds of Cumberland Presbyterian youth gather at presbyterial camps, events like CPYC, and mission trips. At these events, many young people will experience God’s call on their life. God will speak and they will answer. Thankfully, there are many who have gone before and journeyed with God who can share their experiences and wisdom with the young people who will hear God’s call this summer.

It’s important that the young people in our congregations know the “Elis” in the church. In the past the church spent a great deal of energy and effort to separate people into age groupings. In the last 20 years, there has been a movement towards more multigenerational, intergenerational ministry. We’ve seen that the young need the wise and the wise need the young. It takes the open heart and mind of both for God’s call to be heard. We need both young and old to seek what God has for our lives.

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Pray

Help us, God, to seek your call on our lives and to encourage those who have heard your call on their lives. May we lift up one another, spend more time together than apart, and learn from one another as we all journey closer to you. Amen

Go with God.