1 Samuel 1:24, "Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her...and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh..."

Think

As we've been learning, Hannah prayed a powerful prayer asking God to give her a son, and the Lord answered. When her son, Samuel, was old enough, she took him to live at the tabernacle in Shiloh and study under Eli, the priest. Surely this was difficult because it was widely known that Eli's own sons were flagrantly disobedient to God. Nonetheless, Hannah had faith, respected Eli's position, and fulfilled her promise to God. Picture the contrast between these families. Samuel's family worshiped regularly and sought God's direction and blessing. So, Samuel had a strong foundation that prepared him to become a great leader. Conversely, Eli knew of his son's misdeeds, yet did nothing. He was clueless when it came to leading his own family in a godly direction. As a result, his sons' gifts and opportunities were wasted because of their lack of character and commitment Are you setting a godly example? Are you leading the kids in your life towards Jesus? We have a great opportunity to set up our children for success. This is why we should feel an urgency and have the conviction to lead our children toward Christ and model godliness within our home!

Act

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Memorize this crucial parenting verse and take a few moments to consider the ways in which you are training the children around you to live a life devoted to Christ. Also, think about any areas that need improvement. And, if you are not a parent, remember you, too, have a sphere of influence and can set an example by modeling the character of Christ. You never know who you may be influencing!

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son to set the perfect example of purity and godliness. I want to make a difference in the lives of others, especially children. Therefore, help me to model Jesus' character within my home and everywhere I go. And show me any areas in which I need improvement in order to do so. In Jesus' name, Amen.