In my previous blog entry, I wrote, “There is no doubt in my mind that the greatest privilege one can receive is to become a child of the living God. This is to be awake to His existence! However, my dear brothers and sisters, being awake to His existence is a great privilege that comes with a great responsibility. We must understand the reason we have been saved, and never lose sight of it!”

My family and I are studying the book of 1 Samuel in our weekly Scripture study time. Recently, we talked about the wonderful story surrounding Samuel’s birth. One of the unique parts of this story is the fact that Hannah acknowledges that Samuel is indeed a gift from God, and belongs to Him:

“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephod of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh, although the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. “For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. “So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.” 1 Samuel 24-28

This always amazes me. It was not only that Hannah acknowledged that Samuel was a gift from God, but also that the boy belonged to God. It is because of this that she gave him back to the LORD in order to serve Him.

There is something in this for us to glean. As God’s followers, we are to recognize that our salvation is not just for us, but it is with a purpose beyond ourselves. At the time that we receive God’s gift of salvation, we are now to give our lives back to Him. It is no longer about us, but all for Him.

In addition to our salvation, God has also gifted each of us with some very special gifts – spiritual gifts; those gifts are not to be used for our own self-service, but rather to glorify Him and to advance His Kingdom.

Are you grateful for His gift of salvation in your life? Do you live your life as a reflection of that? Are you investing the talents that He gave you for the sake of the Kingdom?

If not, there’s no better time to start than NOW!

Shabbat Shalom,

Moran