Position with God
I Samuel 2:12, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men ; they did not know the LORD.”
Eli was the priest of God, from the tribe of Levites whom God had personally chosen to minister before Him. However, his sons, Hophni and Phinehaas, rejected their selection by God, and chose to use their “position” as something to benefit them. This position of authority they had was used a way that they could manipulate the people instead of serving the people as God had intended. The sons of Eli literally grew up in the temple of God, and being the sons of the priest they heard about the marvelous works of God everyday. We can see from this story that no matter who you may be that ultimately the choice of following God is an individual decision we all must make, and no matter what you may see or hear about God the lies of Satan can pull us away from God if we let them.
Hophni and Phinehas seemed to have everything going for them; they were at church every time the doors opened. They never missed a church service; they were held at their house, and they saw the reverence that the people had for their father. But, instead of seeking a way that they could serve God by ministering to His people they looked for a way that they could use this for their advantage. I’m certain that Eli told them the stories of how God had rescued His people from Egypt, and how He had sustained them through the wilderness journeys, but still when his sons grew up they used their special authority as priests to take advantage of people.
We see that happening a lot today; people who are chosen by God to serve His people using it instead as a means to get what they want. These individuals may have grown up in church, but their comes a time when we all must decide for ourselves if we are going to faithful or faithless. We cannot rely on our heritage to keep us, but the decision must be made in our own hearts.
No matter what advantage we may have been given; we must come to God on our own. Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, was handpicked by the Lord to walk with Him, but after the earthly kingdom vision had been broken Judas sought a way that he might profit from his special position. We have all been chosen by God to minister to receive His blessings, but we must decide in our hearts if we want to get His eternal blessings, or get what we can get on our own.
II Peter 3:3, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming ? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
God desires that we all come to Him, and receive His blessings, but we must make the final decision in our own hearts.
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Father God, I thank You for loving me, and giving me the choice to follow You into eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 