As parents we all have desires for our children. Let’s look at the Life of Hannah in 1 Samuel. The book opens up with a man named Elkanah and his two wives (Peninnah and Hannah). Peninnah would often taunt Hannah because she was barren. What I love about Hannah is that in her desperation for a baby she cried out to the Lord. She made the vow in vs. 11, “O Lord of Heavens Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you.” Hannah dedicated her child to the Lord. God answered Hannah’s prayer and gave her a boy, whom she named Samuel (meaning God hears or God answers). Hannah nursed the boy until he was 5 or 6 and then took him to the tabernacle and left him to become a Prophet. (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
You might be wondering, “why is he talking about this?” No, I do not want you to drop your child off at Fearless service and never come back. Please come back and get them! (LOL) I wrote this email to encourage you. I know parenting is one of the hardest things you will ever do. But I think we can learn a lot from Hannah.
Hannah’s desire for Samuel was to be who God called him to be. Her desire WAS NOT
1. To go to the best schools
2. To get the best education and be the smartest in the class
3. To make varsity football, basketball, volleyball, or to be the lead role in the school play
She was focused primarily on his relationship with God. There is nothing wrong with those things. I was a three-sport athlete in high school. I understand the pressures from the school and coaches. Thankfully, my parents showed me by their actions that none of that was more important than church. I have missed games, left practices early, lost sleep to finish homework after church, etc.
Someone once said that, “Your kids are the only thing you can take with you to Heaven.” Wow, let that one sink in for a moment…
We should be thinking, “How can I train this child to stand strong for the things of the Lord?”
1. Let them see you reading the Word
2. Let them see you spending time in prayer and worship
3. Let them see you making church a non-negotiable
4. Let them see you living by faith!
The series that we have just begun on Wednesday will take your students through the books of the Bible. Biblical Literacy is at an all time low in this generation. I have never done book by book teaching, but the Lord pressed it onto my heart to do so. This series will help your students to have a deeper awareness of the meaning of whats in the Bible - how God’s grand narrative unfolds from the first words in Gensis 1, “In the beginning….,” to the very last words of Revelation. How there’s one common thread that knits the whole thing together. That there is a meaning behind every word and every story God chose to include in His book of instruction. If you would like to follow along with us, read 1 Samuel over these next 2 weeks. you can also watch the messages on The seed Church app.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to me, I am available. I am praying for your family and for your students.
Thank you,
Pastor Caleb Womble