Wednesday, January 29, 2014

~Devoted to the point of sacrifice: the story of Hannah~

Many would wonder what does it take to be truly devoted to God, But I think the thing that really shows how devoted you are isn't so much that you have a certain drive within you, I think it's mainly being at the point where you are willing to give it all up for God, There's just something about surrendering that lights a flame within us..It's the fire of God that grows stronger and stronger inside of us to the point that we are willing to do anything to keep that flame inside of us hot! When I think of this the story that comes to my mind is the story of Hannah, Hannah longed to have a child so badly that she fasted and prayed in the house of the Lord, she prayed for God to give her a son and God heard her cry! Out of her troubled spirit and devotion to God her prayer was answered! Hannah wanted a son but she wanted to do more than just that, She wanted to give her son to God in return to do his work and serve in the temple as a servant of God!
In many ways if you'll look closely to this story, It's very similar to another familiar story that we know!
It's the story of God sending his only son to live a perfect life on earth and out of love offering himself as a sacrifice to save the people of this world from damnation in hell so that we may become free from our sins and be with Jesus someday in heaven!
Much like the story of Jesus, Hannah was willing to give out of love, her son, just as Mary gave her son out of love, the only differences in these two stories is, that Jesus who was also a servant to helping others for the kingdom could spare the world from all their sins, While Hannah's son Samuel also being a servant to the Lord helped pave the way for future generations when you think about it since the story of Hannah came in the old testament and the story of Jesus was much later.
But you see my point, it all comes down to this.."Devotion" and "Serving" Now let me tell you the rest of Hannah's story, Hannah was a remarkable woman to be able to give up the very thing that she had many years longed for, "A Child" But instead of praying for a son and just saying "thanks God" She did so much more..She gave her son back to God to serve in the temple and by doing so she had blessed her child beyond measure! That is so powerful to me! I cannot imagine choosing to give up a child knowing that this may be the only child you will ever have to call your own! But somehow Hannah did this! I think the reason Hannah was able to give her baby back to God was because she knew her son was needed in the Lord's house more than her son was needed in her own house.. Hannah saw the need!
(1 Samuel 1-22) "They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, for she said "I have asked for him from the Lord." The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever."
Wow! Hannah loved the Lord so much and was so devoted to him that she gave all she had to God!
So in my mind it's just as simply as this point, being "devoted" isn't just about praying and seeking God to me..I think it's so much more than that! I think being "devoted" means that once God answers your prayer you continue to worship and seek God but you're giving what he gave you back to him because you love him! That's what it's all about to me! Devote yourself to God and Serve in the name of the Lord because you love him and you want something beyond yourself, You want to do everything to bring God the Glory!
~Dani

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