The Adult's Sunday School
Class - Proverbs
scripture reading: #650
Sunday evening Vesper's at
Wednesday, @
[JEAN] Infrequent visions
(I Samuel 3:1) In those days the word of the LORD was
rare; there were not many visions. 2. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming
so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3. 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.
4. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5.
And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said,
"I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. 6.
Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli
and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said,
"I did not call; go back and lie down."
7. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the
LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8. The LORD called Samuel a third time,
and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called
me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
9. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he
calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel
went and lay down in his place. 10. The LORD came and stood there, calling as
at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak,
for your servant is listening."
11. And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about
to do something in
13. For I told him that I would judge his family forever
because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he
failed to restrain them.
[JEAN]
What happens if folks are aware of their kids going down the wrong path
and they don't attempt to change it?
[JIM] A strange phenomenon seems to take place in
the often practiced parental posturing of denial. As folks 'look' the other way, their lives lose focus and
their family goes adrift.
Does this happen among
church people?
[JEAN] Certainly. I suspect there might actually be
a higher rate of incidence among church folks than in the general population.
The reasons are varied. Some
folks just wish to avoid embarrassment. Others might be blinded by a 'see no evil...hear no evil'
mentality.
Whatever the reason, folks who refuse to intervene
in destructive behavior developments in their kids are going to see a
disastrous time come for their family.
[JIM]
The 'word of the Lord' wasn't being sought by Eli, he was distracted. If you are trying to avoid
evidence of your children's misbehavior you will be frequently wondering where
they are, what they are up to, and whether they are safe. Those are not
thoughts that have vision
and direction for the future.
[JEAN]
It isn't possible to be a person of vision and leadership for your
family if your family isn't following.
The first step is to round up the troops and have a
time of confession and repentance.
[JIM] The next step is to foster and nurture the various
perspectives within the family into a cohesive vision that enables you
to say as Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
[JEAN] Don't abdicate your responsibility for vision and having that
sense of Divine direction.
[JIM]
Seek God and keep your kids close.