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Thursday
The First
Lesson
1 Samuel 3:1-18
1
And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And
the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no
open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in
his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD,
where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst
me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and
lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and
went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And
he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word
of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose
and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall
be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy
servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,
Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant
heareth.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in
Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall
tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I
have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make
an end.
13 For
I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the
iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile,
and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the
iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor
offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of
the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered,
Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto
thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and
more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that
he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.
And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
1st Lesson Questions -
Is ours a day in which the word of the LORD is also "precious"? (V. 1) When was the last time God spoke to me, with an incorrect response on my part? Eli "constrained... not" his sons, and therefore God judged his house. (V. 13) Have I similarly neglected my parental duties? How so? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Luke 12:22-34
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you,
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for
the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which
neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much
more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature
one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why
take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin
not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was
not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field,
and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe
you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,
neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after:
and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags
which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Does anxiety about life - temporal concerns - inhibit me? Which do I seek first - the kingdom of God or the stuff of this world? Why? Do I believe verses 32 and 34? Does my life reflect my belief? RESOLVE.