November 13th, 2026
Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1–10
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. 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 house 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 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” 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.”
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 house 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 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” 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.”
Samuel is young. He's serving in the house of the Lord under Eli.
And one night, Samuel hears someone calling his name.
He assumes it's Eli.
Three times he goes to Eli, and three times Eli tells him that he hasn't called.
Eventually, Eli recognizes what Samuel hasn't yet understood.
The Lord is calling Samuel. And Eli helps Samuel know how to respond. I think there's something worth noticing in this story.
Samuel needed someone else to help him understand what was happening. Now, our experiences with God aren't necessarily going to look like Samuel's. But the story reminds us of something important.
We need one another. We aren't meant to figure out faithfulness entirely on our own.
Sometimes another person's wisdom helps us recognize something we've overlooked. Sometimes a question challenges an assumption. Sometimes we need someone who knows us well enough to speak honestly into our lives.
Discernment doesn't happen in silos.
We're entering this season as a church community, not simply as individuals completing a reading plan.
A Conversation
Think of someone whose faith and wisdom you respect.
Reach out to them today, or make time for a conversation soon.
You don't need a great question or some significant decision to discuss.
You might simply ask: "What's something God has been teaching you lately?"
Listen to their answer.
And one night, Samuel hears someone calling his name.
He assumes it's Eli.
Three times he goes to Eli, and three times Eli tells him that he hasn't called.
Eventually, Eli recognizes what Samuel hasn't yet understood.
The Lord is calling Samuel. And Eli helps Samuel know how to respond. I think there's something worth noticing in this story.
Samuel needed someone else to help him understand what was happening. Now, our experiences with God aren't necessarily going to look like Samuel's. But the story reminds us of something important.
We need one another. We aren't meant to figure out faithfulness entirely on our own.
Sometimes another person's wisdom helps us recognize something we've overlooked. Sometimes a question challenges an assumption. Sometimes we need someone who knows us well enough to speak honestly into our lives.
Discernment doesn't happen in silos.
We're entering this season as a church community, not simply as individuals completing a reading plan.
A Conversation
Think of someone whose faith and wisdom you respect.
Reach out to them today, or make time for a conversation soon.
You don't need a great question or some significant decision to discuss.
You might simply ask: "What's something God has been teaching you lately?"
Listen to their answer.
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