By this time Eli was very old. He kept getting reports on how his sons were ripping off the people and sleeping with the women who helped out at the sanctuary. Eli took them to task: “What’s going on here? Why are you doing these things? I hear story after story of your corrupt and evil carrying on. Oh, my sons, this is not right! These are terrible reports I’m getting, stories spreading right and left among God’s people! If you sin against another person, there’s help—God’s help. But if you sin against God, who is around to help?”
But they were far gone in disobedience and refused to listen to a thing their father said. So God, who was fed up with them, decreed their death. But the boy Samuel was very much alive, growing up, blessed by God and popular with the people.~ 1 Samuel 2:22-26 MSG
Today’s download came a little differently.
My waking time verse was 1 Samuel 22:23; Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.
But I wrote it down as 1 Samuel 2:23.
I had actually wrote the verse down wrong- …or did I?
When unpacking I found the verse above in the Message translation. The subtitle was “A Hard Life With Many Tears”.
I could relate to those words. My life was hard and filled with many tears before God. Sometimes it can still be very much hard and full of tears but thankfully now I have a Helper and Hope.
So my verse for today for my 13 of 13 Fasting Experience Downloads, strangely came about by my error but I believe God loves to even use our mistakes for good!
Here are the notes on this passage:
Eli exercised “tough-love as he confronted his sons about their blatant sin. He surely hoped they would make significant changes in their lives. Unfortunately, they didn’t listen to their father. The young men refused to set boundaries on their behavior, and they displayed no desire to change. Their choice to go their own way brought dire consequences – ultimately, physical death. Eli, too, made a choice: he opted to ignore his sons continued disobedience. Thus the high priest failed in his responsibility to God and was eventually judged for it. Eli was told that his descendants would bring him tears of grief and would die in the prime of their life. What a bitter harvest we reap when we refuse to turn from temptation and embrace God’s power to change. ~Life Recovery Bible
Lord, may we always speak the truth in love and give us ears to hear the truth, even when it’s tough. I desire to change Lord. Help me to set boundaries with my behaviors. Help me not to overlook or ignore disobedience, in myself or in my children that You have given me responsibility over. Lead me from temptation Lord, as I embrace You and Your power to change. Amen.
~XXOO Michelle Bollom
Restored People Community 