Inviting God – Week 4 / Samuel

Week 4 – Day 1: An Invitation to Ministry

Read: 1 Samuel 3:1–10

Samuel was a miracle baby. His mother, Hannah, spent most of her adult life longing for a child. Her husband had another wife who bore him multiple children. But the Bible makes it clear – during that time, Hannah remained childless (1 Samuel 1:2). So, she prayed. Earnestly. And she made a promise. She told God that if He blessed her with a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. When God allowed her to become pregnant and she gave birth to a beautiful boy named Samuel, she kept her word. As soon as he was weaned (in ancient times, probably around the age of three), she took Samuel to the temple in Shiloh and dedicated him to the Lord by entrusting him to Eli the priest.

Samuel grew up serving faithfully in the temple alongside Eli (1 Samuel 2:11). The Bible doesn’t tell us how old he was in today’s text, but most Jewish scholars think that he was around the age of twelve. Just think about that for a moment. A twelve-year-old boy who has grown up serving in the temple during a difficult time in the life of Israel. A time when “the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread” (1 Samuel 3:1). And there, in the middle of the night, the Lord called out to him. The word in Hebrew means to call, to proclaim, to summon, or to invite. That last one is my favorite.

On three occasions, God called out to young Samuel. After each invitation, Samuel jumps up and runs to Eli, believing he is the one who called him. On the first two occasions, Eli just tells Samuel to go back to bed. But when it happens a third time, Eli realizes something. Young Samuel is experiencing the same thing that Eli no doubt had experienced at one time in his life – it was the Lord. The Lord was calling Samuel – inviting him into the ministry.

Did you know that God has done the same thing with us? With you? I mean it. When you accepted Christ, you accepted God’s invitation to eternal life (John 3:16). But, you also accepted His invitation into a new life and a new purpose. An invitation to ministry – the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Maybe, like Samuel, you don’t understand that invitation fully yet. He certainly didn’t at first. But God didn’t give up just because Samuel and Eli didn’t understand. He kept calling. Kept inviting Samuel to come to Him. To join Him and His work. To be a minister.

That’s what this devotional is all about. The goal is to help you understand your calling – the invitation that God has put on your life. He hasn’t just invited you into a personal relationship; He has called you into the ministry, just like Samuel. 

And here’s the thing: you may not feel like a priest. You may not feel like a minister. Even though Samuel performed priestly duties, several people still deny he was a priest. They are okay labeling him as a prophet and a judge, but for some reason, placing him in the priesthood makes them uncomfortable. 

But listen to what the New Testament says about you and me. Peter declares in 2 Peter 2:9-10 that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Read that again. 

You are part of a royal priesthood. You are a minister in God’s Kingdom. A minister of reconciliation. Someone set aside for service to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Someone consecrated for His business. The business of seeking and saving the lost. Healing the hurting. Setting the captives free. 

To believe it, you may need to repeat it to yourself several times. Samuel certainly needed more than one reminder. But I am so hopeful for you. I believe that your time and commitment to studying God’s Word over these 12 weeks will bring a great transformation in your mind and heart. I believe hearing God’s invitation again and again will help you break free from the lies the enemy has spoken into your life – telling you that you are unlovable and unusable. 

My friend, God loves you deeply. He loves you so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in your place. You are valuable to Him. And He wants to use you. It’s time you let Him. It’s time you believe Him. It’s time you accept His invitation into ministry and mission.

Prayer: Father, please remind me repeatedly that you have called me into ministry. I am part of a royal— a spiritual priesthood. I have a divine purpose and calling. Increase my belief. Increase my faith. Help me see clearly how you have called me and long to use me to impact those around me. Amen.

Reflection:
1. Hearing the Call – Just as Samuel initially misunderstood God’s voice, how do you discern when God is calling you? What helps you recognize His invitations in your life? Are there any practices you can implement to help you hear Him more clearly?

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2. Identity in Christ – How does recognizing you are part of a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9–10) challenge or motivate the way you see yourself and your role in God’s Kingdom? How would living this out impact your daily life?

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3. Breaking Lies – What lies from the enemy (e.g., “unusable,” “unlovable,” “not qualified”) do you need to confront so you can fully accept God’s invitation into ministry? How does God’s truth—revealed in Scripture—directly replace that lie, and what step can you take this week to live out of His truth instead of the enemy’s deception?

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Application:
This week, remind yourself daily: “I am called. I am part of a royal priesthood. God has set me apart for His mission.” Speak it out loud each morning. Then, take one small step of ministry—whether encouraging someone, praying for the hurting, or sharing hope with a friend—to live out that identity.

Week 4 – Day 2: The Weight of Calling

Read: 1 Samuel 3:11-21

Hey, welcome behind the curtain of being called by God to the ministry. It’s not always pretty, is it? I don’t know any better way to relate our text this morning than that. God invites Samuel into the ministry, and He instantly reveals to him a really hard truth involving someone he loved and cared about. 

It’s a pretty honest look behind the scenes at what ministry truly involves. It’s tough. It’s messy. It can feel lonely and even heavy at times. That’s probably why we resist it so much—why we prefer to say “leave it up to the professionals.” Speaking of “the professionals,” God definitely calls some people into what we would call full-time vocational ministry. That means He places a calling on their lives to serve as full-time pastors, missionaries, and similar roles. If you’ve felt that tug on your heart and wonder if it’s from God, Samuel’s story is a great place to start! And if that’s you, I encourage you—reach out to one of us on staff. Let’s talk about it! Let us help you discern exactly what God is inviting you into.

But for most people, God’s call to ministry looks a lot like what they’re already doing. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus delivers a man from a legion of demons. In response, the man wants to start following Jesus around. But notice the Lord’s instructions to the man, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19). Did you catch that? Jesus said, in essence, “Go back to your life, but now use that life for MY Kingdom, by telling others about me.”

That sounds very much like what He says to each of us. Go do what you do – but now do it for the Lord! That’s the call! And, here’s where it gets tough – we do that because we have seen behind the curtain. We understand the spiritual battle that is happening and the eternal destiny of those without Christ.

Like Samuel, then, we carry a burden. But here’s the deal – it’s one of the things I love about this story. That burden is real, but it’s not really ours to carry. We should feel it, we should know that it’s there and real and that the consequences are high. It should drive us to act, cause us to pray, and force us to share. But, it shouldn’t weigh us down.

That’s what the burden of ministry did to Samuel at first, by the way – it weighed him down. The Lord revealed what would happen to Eli’s sons, and it was too much for Samuel to bear. But Eli knew, and he forced Samuel to tell (verse 17). Eli took Samuel’s burden upon himself and declared, “He is the Lord, let him do what he thinks is good.” (verse 18).

When I read that, I can’t help but think of Jesus. Jesus who comes and says to the hurting and heavily burdened, and invites them in for an amazing exchange. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What an exchange! Jesus invites us to Himself and offers a great exchange. He will carry the weight of our burdens as long as we share in His burden for lost people. It’s an extremely gracious offer—an invitation where He calls us into relationship and ministry. Where we feel the weight and even endure the hardships of that ministry, and yet He still says, “just bring that stuff to me – I got it.”

Eli freed Samuel from the burden of ministry and the difficult message He was called to deliver. Jesus does this for us through the Holy Spirit. He calls us to be messengers of reconciliation, but He is responsible for bringing about the change (John 6:44). He calls us to go and share, but He is the one responsible for its power and effectiveness (Acts 1:8).

I don’t know about you, but I find that incredibly freeing. Don’t get me wrong. Knowing that I’m a vital part of God’s mission can be heavy. Now I see people through a different lens. I notice their hurt. I empathize. Often, it causes me great pain – even tears. More than once, to truly feel their pain and hurt with them, I have to rip off old spiritual and emotional scabs. That’s the cost of loving well.

But here’s the thing. Throughout it all, I’ve realized Jesus is always enough. While He allows me to hurt so I can minister, He’s the one who bears the real scars and carries most of my pain. And I’m truly grateful for that.

Being in ministry is tough. But, friend, that’s exactly what we are in. Together. It’s hard, but beautiful. Frustrating but fruitful. Lonely but full of the Lord’s presence and power.

Welcome behind the curtain. I’m so glad you’re here. Now, go and do what you do, taking your new burden for people you meet along the way to the Lord. Let Him bear it as you faithfully minister by inviting others into His presence and this ministry of reconciliation.

Prayer: Father, I just want to be honest. The thought of having to see everything in my life through the lens of ministry and reconciliation is a bit overwhelming. It’s much easier to go about my day without thinking about the spiritual realities of those around me. But, I can’t do that anymore. You are opening my eyes to a whole new existence. A whole new realm. One that matters so much more than I ever wanted to believe. Help me live in this new realm and to minister to the hurting people I find there. When I feel overwhelmed, help me run to you—so that you might carry the heavy load and allow me to keep reconciling others to you. Amen.

Reflection:
1. How does Samuel’s initial reaction to God’s call reflect the challenges and emotional weight of ministry? In what ways have you felt the burden of ministry—or even just sharing your faith—personally, and how did you respond?

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2. How does Jesus’ instruction to “go back to your own people” change your understanding of everyday ministry? Who in your daily life is God calling you to “go back” to and share His love and story with?

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3. What does it look like practically to allow God to carry the weight of the ministry while still actively participating? How can you balance feeling the weight of others’ needs without becoming overwhelmed or discouraged?

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Application:
Today, take intentional steps to see the people around you through God’s eyes. Notice someone who seems hurt, burdened, or far from Him, and take a step to invite them into a relationship with Jesus—whether through a conversation, inviting them to church, or sharing how God has worked in your life. Trust that God carries the weight and equips you for the impact of your faithful witness.

Week 4 – Day 3: What is Ministry?

Read: Mark 1:17 (NIV), John 14:12-17

Well, as I said yesterday, you are in it now! You’re behind the curtain. You are in the ministry! Welcome. I remember how I felt when I first realized that. I thought, “that’s cool.” And then I immediately wondered, “Now what? What exactly am I supposed to be doing? What have I gotten myself into?”

After yesterday, you might be wondering the same thing. But don’t worry, that’s what today’s passages are about. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 that being a minister of reconciliation simply means that we are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). That we represent Jesus to a watching world. And the Bible is clear on this – it’s part of the package. When we put our faith in Jesus, we become His followers.

As His followers, we are called to take up His mission—seeking the lost and helping them be reconciled to God (Luke 19:10). That’s what Jesus calls all of His disciples to do. He comes to them, seeks them out, and calls them into a personal relationship with Him through faith. Then He says to them, “Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17). 

And this isn’t an optional fishing trip my friends. Jesus made it clear that following Him meant that we had to spend our lives doing what He did. Caring for what He cared about. That’s the exchange we made when we received Christ as our Savior.

We needed salvation. We couldn’t make ourselves acceptable to God, nor could we meet His standard of righteousness. That’s why Jesus came. He lived the perfect life that we fail to. He met God’s standard for acceptance, and then He willingly offered His own life as a sacrificial payment to cover our sins. To come to Him in faith means that we must come to an end of ourselves. Salvation is about an exchange. We give Jesus our life, and in return, we receive His.

That means that we get to live together with God in Heaven forever – because we have been forever covered by the perfect righteousness of Jesus. But it also means that we now must live for His cause. That’s the exchange. Our life for His. That’s why Jesus tells His disciples (as He is preparing to head to Jerusalem and the cross), “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do.”

In other words, if we have trusted Jesus and given Him our sins, we must also surrender our lives to Him. He died for us—now we live for Him, which means we focus on His mission and do what He did. That’s what this entire Great Commission really comes down to—doing what Jesus did. Seeking out the lost, helping them find salvation through faith in Christ. Then we disciple them—teaching them to obey the Lord and submit to His authority in their lives. And part of that involves helping them understand that because Jesus died for them, they now live for Him and His mission.

When we invite people into the family of God, we are also inviting them into God’s mission. Make sense? And listen, this can’t be a hobby or something we do only occasionally. Jesus didn’t take only part of our sin. He didn’t only offer part of Himself for our sake. He gave all of Himself to save us. His life had a singular purpose.

And now – that is our purpose. Of course, it looks different for us. We aren’t the sinless Son of God, and we can’t die in someone’s place as a one-time sin offering. But we can dedicate our lives to Christ’s cause—following His example and reaching out to people who are far from God. We can, as we learned yesterday, live our lives and build relationships in a completely different way. Seeing the people in our lives the way Jesus does. Telling them that God loves them so much that He sent His only Son to die for their sins. Letting them know that God desires a relationship with them and that they also can become children of God through faith in Jesus. That’s what ministry is.

Maybe that sounds overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be. The ministry of reconciliation is simple. Just do what Jesus did. Love people. Seek them out. Invite them in. Tell them the good news. And invite them to follow Jesus the same way you are.

Prayer: Father, I realize I may have never thought about it this way— that I am called to the ministry. And that my role is to do what Jesus did. With the Spirit’s help, even greater things. Wow! God, I want You to use me. I truly do. Help me overcome my fears and doubts. Help me trust You and step out in faith into this wonderful ministry of inviting others into a relationship with You.

Reflection:

1. Jesus invited His disciples to follow Him and fish for people. What does this verse teach us about the inseparable link between following Jesus and joining His mission? Can fishing for people and following Jesus ever really be separated? Why or why not?

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2. Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will do the works He did—and even greater things. What do you think He meant by that? How can you do a better job of doing what Jesus did in your daily life? Be specific.

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3. Reflect on 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 – As ambassadors of Christ, we represent Him to a watching world. What does being an ambassador practically look like in your daily life? If we are not seeking out people to be reconciled to God, are we truly representing Him? How does that question challenge you personally?

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Application:
Today, live intentionally as Christ’s ambassador by looking for one opportunity to invite someone into God’s family—whether that’s by sharing your testimony, offering to pray with them, or inviting them to church. Let your words and actions reflect the mission of Jesus: to love people, seek them out, and invite them in.

Week 4 – Day 4: Ordinary Obedience – Extraordinary Outcome

Read: Acts 9:10-19

So, this ministry thing… can we talk about it a bit today? As you probably learned this week – it’s not exactly what you thought. Being in the ministry doesn’t mean we have to get on a plane or a boat and go to the other side of the world. Some people are set apart by God for that special task, for sure. But for most of us, ministry is just going across the street – across the room — and doing and saying what the Holy Spirit prompts us to. Making connections. Investing in others and constantly looking for ways to invite those people into a relationship with God. Ministry really boils down to living a life of regular and ordinary obedience. 

That may not sound exciting, but it’s true. And here’s the beautiful part – it always has a greater impact than we think! Seriously. Because our ministry, the ministry of reconciliation, is all about people – its impact is always larger than what we can know or see. Take our story today. Ananias was an ordinary disciple – a regular “Joe” if you will. I mean Luke, the person who wrote the book of Acts, is known for all of the details he included in his writing, yet here all he says is, “There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias.” (Acts 9:10). That’s it. Just a regular follower of Jesus – a disciple, like you and me.

And this ordinary disciple did exactly what we are called to do. He listened to the command of Jesus (in a vision) and went and did what Jesus told him to do. (Remember, that’s all ministry is—listening to the command of Jesus and doing what He told us to do.) Now, in his case, Jesus called him to go to a pretty unlikely candidate: a man named Saul. A man who was probably traveling with documents that said he could round up believers like Ananias and bring them back to Jerusalem so they might be put on trial for blasphemy for believing in Christ. But out of obedience, Ananias went and said exactly what Jesus told him to say.

And guess what? God used it! Saul was transformed that day. When the scales fell from his eyes, so did his old ways. His hatred also disappeared. That day, Saul became a new man—a man we would later know as the Apostle Paul. The light to the Gentiles. The man who would write half the New Testament and defend the very foundation of our faith: that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

It reminds me of another story about a Sunday School teacher who also clearly heard the Lord tell him to go to someone. Edward Kimball taught Sunday School in Boston during the 1850s. The kids he taught came from tough backgrounds. They were poor and often pulled away from church by life’s demands. One of those boys worked in his uncle’s shoe store. Kimball clearly felt the Spirit telling him to “Go” and speak to a boy in his class named Dwight about Christ. He was hesitant. Nervous. In fact, he almost didn’t do it. But he couldn’t deny the Holy Spirit’s nudge to go and speak. He found Dwight in the back room of his uncle’s store, stocking shoes, and there Kimball shared the love of Jesus with him. That very day, Dwight L. Moody surrendered his life to Christ.

D.L. Moody became one of the great evangelists of the 1900s. Preaching to over 100 million people during his lifetime, and remember, this was before television and radio. Moody’s preaching had a significant impact on the world. It is believed that through his direct preaching, between half a million to a million people came to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Countless millions more have been reached through his legacy. 

Here’s the point. Edward Kimball had no idea what God was going to do with Dwight Moody. He only knew that God told him to go and tell him about Jesus. Ananias had no idea that Saul would become the Apostle Paul. But their ordinary acts of obedience led to extraordinary outcomes! We don’t know God’s plans. His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). What we do know is that his plans include using us! Sending us to others to tell them about Him. And, who knows, some of those people might just change the world.

Prayer: God, increase my vision for this ministry you’ve called me to. Keep reframing it in my mind and my heart. Grow my understanding and my desire to participate. Give me a vision of how you can use my ordinary acts of obedience to change the entire course of others’ lives. Help me believe it and live it this week Amen.

Reflection:
1. Ananias was just an ordinary disciple, yet God used his obedience to change the course of history through Saul’s conversion. What does this teach us about how God values “ordinary” obedience? How does it challenge the way you view your own ministry opportunities?

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2. Edward Kimball simply followed the Spirit’s nudge and spoke to a Sunday school boy named Dwight Moody. That act ended up influencing millions for Christ. Can you think of a time when a seemingly small step of obedience—yours or someone else’s—led to a much bigger spiritual impact than expected?

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3. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s ways and plans are higher than ours. Ananias and Kimball didn’t know the extraordinary outcomes of their obedience in the moment. How might remembering that truth free you from fear or hesitation when God prompts you to speak or act? And lovingly, if we resist those promptings, what opportunities for Kingdom impact might we be missing?

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Application:
Today, ask God to open your eyes to one person He may be nudging you toward—a neighbor, coworker, classmate, or friend. Take an ordinary step of obedience by speaking an encouraging word, sharing your testimony, or inviting them to church. Trust that God can take your simple act of obedience and use it for extraordinary Kingdom impact.

Week 4 – Day 5: Body Building

Read: Ephesians 4:11-16

I love Ephesians 4. I love thinking about the church as one body made up of many parts. As a pastor, I find it brings great clarity to my purpose as a leader – to equip the people that God has entrusted to my care for the work of ministry. That’s it. That’s the job.

To teach each person how to use their gifts, past experiences, and current circumstances to help others build a personal relationship with God and understand their role in His mission. When done correctly, the body moves smoothly, with purpose and grace. When done incorrectly, each part tries to do its own thing, calling that thing “ministry” – but not necessarily reflecting the mission or heart of Jesus.

That’s why I often say there is only one ministry in our church, only one mission—the ministry of reconciliation. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have Kids, Youth, Marriage, Men’s, and Women’s ministries. It simply means that all of those ministries are really part of the same mission—the ministry of reconciliation. The goal is that at every age and stage of life, people come to know and understand that God loves them,  wants to have a relationship with them, and wants to use them to teach others the same thing.

That means that everything we do is aligned together. There is no competing – just completing. Each area makes the other better. Each has the same goal in mind – reaching people for Christ, and making disciples that do the same. Every area working together, giving of themselves to support the greater mission. That’s what the church is meant to look like.

For some, it’s a shocking experience to join a church that measures everything against a single mission. They come from backgrounds where ministries competed for time and resources, or from places where people were simply allowed to do whatever they wanted as long as it seemed “Christian.” The problem with that approach is that it creates competition instead of teamwork. When it comes to the Kingdom of God and the body of Christ, we need a coordinated effort to advance and push back the dark places in our world. 

So, that’s what we’re trying to do. And I’m so glad you are part of it. I hope and pray our relentless desire to stay on mission doesn’t tire you or frustrate you. But we simply believe there is too much at stake to be anything less than a unified body all working for the same goal.

Two last quick nuggets as we wrap up the week. First, remember this is work. The text calls it the “work of ministry” for a reason. Yes, much of what we do is fun and even exciting—but it’s not easy. There are weekly, even daily demands in ministry. The mission of Jesus demands effort. It calls us to stay focused on reaching the people God has placed in our path—people we have unique access to that others simply don’t. Second, because the first is true, you’ve got to find balance to avoid burnout. I had to learn long ago that I can’t do everything—but I must always do something in the Kingdom.

Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of wrong approaches to this balance. Some people try to do it all, carrying everyone’s load, and eventually burn out. Some genuinely want to serve the Kingdom, but they’ve pledged their time and energy to so many other things that they never really move the mission of the church forward. Others just assume “someone else will do it.” And of course, there are those who think God could never use them.

Here’s the reality—you can’t spend so much time around church people that you never know anyone far from God. And you can’t spend so much time in the world that you never have a Kingdom impact. The key is learning to use the opportunities God gives you with intentionality to further the cause of Christ. That may mean you pick and choose, pare down, or even step up—but if you’re willing to let God work through you, He will use you. Again, welcome to the ministry! I’m so glad you are a part of our ministry team.  Now, let’s get to work!

Prayer: Father, guide me to be more engaged in the ministry of reconciliation you’ve entrusted to me. Help me understand your design—that each person is placed in my life for a purpose. Show me how you see them and enable me to love them as you do. Use my daily activities as opportunities to reach out to others. If I am overwhelmed, help me eliminate distractions so I can make a lasting impact on people’s lives.

Reflection:
1. Paul describes the church as one body with many parts, each working together to build up the whole. How does this picture of the body challenge the way you view your own role in showing God’s heart to a world in need? Do you see yourself as essential in helping others be reconciled to God—or do you tend to view yourself as replaceable or unnecessary, and why?

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2. The church is meant to be one body, where there is no competing, only completing, because every ministry shares the same mission of reconciliation. What happens when ministries or individuals begin competing instead of working together in showing God’s love? How can you personally help create unity and invite others to know Him through the ministry of reconciliation?

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3. The devotional reminded us that ministry is both work and a matter of balance—avoiding burnout while still living on mission. What does a healthy balance look like for you right now in showing God’s heart to others? Are there things you need to pare down, step up, or adjust so you can better serve and invite others into a relationship with Christ without burning out?

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Application:
Today, take one intentional step to serve as part of the body of Christ—whether that means using your gifts in the church, supporting someone else’s ministry, or inviting someone outside the church into a relationship with Jesus. Remember: the body only grows stronger when every part does its work of reconciliation.