Gospel Reflections #883: We cannot walk the path of faith alone.

1 Samuel 2:18,19 "Samuel wore a linen ephod and served as a young attendant before the Lord. His mother made him a little robe and brought it to him year after year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."

Though Samuel was young when brought to serve in the tabernacle, even then he was given tasks suited to his abilities and fulfilled God's work.

At first, such work seemed very menial and not necessarily pleasant.

Yet Samuel did his utmost and joyfully carried out his duties.

Through repeatedly performing these small daily duties, Samuel's character increasingly became like God's.

A well-balanced, strong, and beautiful character is built through the act of fulfilling each duty.

Moreover, it is not by mechanically fulfilling duties as mere obligations, but by receiving them as roles given by God, performing them joyfully and willingly, and seeking the Holy Spirit's work in doing so—it is not by our own ability, but God Himself who refines our character.

Furthermore, Samuel performed every duty in life with religious conviction, nurtured by his mother's love and the love of the priest Eli.

Surely, within his mother's love and the priest Eli's love, he was filled with God's immeasurable love.

We cannot walk the path of faith alone.

We absolutely need God's love, forgiveness, and guidance; the Holy Spirit's support; and the sharing, encouragement, and mutual support within God's family.

And God has prepared everything we absolutely need.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.