Wednesday, May 4






1 Samuel 8:1, 3-8
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. … But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.  They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”  But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.  And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.  As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.”




Reflection
At times, pursuing our calling will be difficult and challenging. We may even encounter resistance or rejection. In these times, we all need someone who can give us the courage and accountability to move forward and take action – even when we are reluctant to do so.  Someone you can pray with, talk to, share life’s struggles with … someone – to use the phrase of Methodism’s founder John Wesley – to help you “go unwillingly.” 

When have you gone “unwillingly” and found your ministry or your calling going in a whole new direction?

Who are you encouraging – through prayer, words, and actions – to persevere through the challenges of ministry?