Ministry Before the LORD

September 3rd, 2024
by Jon Holaday

1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child,

What a testimony. Samuel starts out right, as a child he serves God. I grew up in the church atmosphere all my life. My parents were both baptized in the Holy Spirit just before I was born. They faithfully served the LORD ever since. Growing up, I knew what was right and wrong. I understood I needed a relationship with Jesus. All of the Bible was on the table for me. Yet I still walked away from God to pursue other things. When I had returned to the LORD, praise the LORD, I often shied away from my testimony of not being overtly dramatic. I wasn't the drug addict that miraculously was healed or the life long atheist who came to the truth! I didn't spend most my life separated from God. I would hear these amazing testimonies, and enjoy them, but often wonder if mine was of any value? I think it took listening to other testimonies like mine, from younger folks than I, who chose Jesus at an early age like Samuel to really see the greatness of this testimony. God, You kept me from all those things that could only bring condemnation into my life, not that You don't heal men of such, You surely do!
Listen, we never have to stray! We only make life harder when we do. Samuels life speaks volumes and is a very powerful testimony to the world. Nobody is outside of Gods grace. There is no advantage in years wasted in sin but there is great hope in a God who can redeem what the enemy stole in a life. Samuels life was amazing!