Grow Up

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

GROW UP

1 Samuel 2:18-21

18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD-a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD." Then they would go home. 21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

NIV

Eli blessed in a prophetic way, which is also a form of prayer, as he spoke to God and on God's behalf, when he blessed Hannah, asking that the LORD be gracious to her and give her more children. Of course, the LORD was gracious to her. However, our story here is about Samuel as he grew up in the presence of the LORD. At some point in our lives, when we come to Jesus, we become a new creature, a baby in Christ, so to speak. Our lives have been renewed as we were born again, or born from above. Before accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we did not know the truth of God. Maybe some grow up with some form of a religious background, while some were totally without ever reading the bible, or knowing anything about the Lord. Nevertheless, the moment of rebirth, we are new and must grow in our knowledge of the truth of God. It is possible, as we have known several people who have read the bible, gained some knowledge of some scriptures, but have no relationship with the Father and with Jesus, and have never experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, the truth is we might grow in our knowledge of the scriptures in our humanity, but we can not grow up in our walk, or our lives, becoming a mature follower of Jesus without being in the presence of the Lord. If we are not in the presence of the Lord, we cannot grow up. But what does it mean to grow up in the presence of the Lord? Is God not everywhere, or always present? Yet, we know what it is to grow up in our humanity without ever acknowledging or experiencing his presence. When we are born again, we begin to learn about the Lord, growing in our knowledge, but it is this experience of the sense of his presence that empowers us to grow up. Knowledge is necessary, but sensing his presence, the experience of being filled with his Spirit, gives us growth in our lives. Let us always be aware as we continue to grow in his presence.