1 Sam 3:19    The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

    

           

That's an interesting little phrase: “the Lord was with Samuel.” That suggests that He isn't with everyone. It suggests that He is ‘more' with some people than others. Usually when Scripture says the Lord was with someone, it means that His blessing was obviously on their life. The outworking of their relationship with the Lord, was that He blessed them. Isn't that how it is supposed to be for all of us, but it does depend on our heart attitude. Is it open to the Lord? That is the crucial question.

 

The second interesting phrase in today's verse is "and he let none of his words fall to the ground."  This refers to Samuel. Obviously an expression of his growing relationship with the Lord was that he talked to the Lord and, more importantly, the Lord talked back to him. What Samuel is being commended for is the fact that he obviously listened to, took note of, and held onto everything the Lord said to him.

 

That raises two important questions for us. First, do we hear the Lord – whether as we read the Bible, in prayer, in meditation, through preaching or through prophecy? The Lord is constantly talking to His people, but whether they hear is another matter. So, do we hear and even more importantly do we hold onto what we have heard and put it into practice? Samuel didn't lose anything the Lord said to him. May that be true of us as well.