Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-04-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Topic For Week beginning April -.
Comment by Rev. =. n. Doyle.

Topic For Week Beginning April -.
Comment by Rev. 5. n. Doyle.
ToPrc.-samuers CALL sam. ILL In
Qgniou meeting with the Juniors.)
Samuel in the Old Testament and
Timothy in the New Testament are
the Inspirations to the dedication OF
childhood to faith In God and to the
service of God. They stand out prom
inently as Illustrations of the blessed
results of early consecraion-that is,
followed by careful after instruction
and nurture. The little men and wo-
men of our Junior Endeavor societies
can do nothing better than to frequent
" turn to the story Of Samueps life
and read again and again of his pious
parentage, of his service in Gods tenn
pie. of his response to Gods call when
only a child and Of his years of fidelity
and faithfulness in his after life. 1t is
a charming story and one that should
be a sweetness and inspiration to the
life of any boy or girl who wants to be
u Christian and Junior Endeavorer.
l. Samuel was carefully prepared for
the call of God. He was the child of
pious parents-Elkanah and Hannah.
He was an answer to a prayer and to
a vow. In fulfillment of that VOW his
mother very early placed him in the
temple of God to be raised for the
service of God and visited him once
year and gave to him little coat, the
workmanship Of loving hands. With
such preparation 1t was little wonder
that God called Samuel to His service
and that Samuel promptly responded
to the call. In these days. when the
church is bewailing the falling OF of
candidates for the gospel ministry, If
there were more Hannahs to conse-
crate their Samuels to the service OF
God In His temple and to raise them
with this one object In view such de-
plorable state of affairs would not ex-
list.
2. Gods call came to Samuel at a
very early age. Samuel was probably
only twelve or thirteen years of age
when God called him to special and
important mission. At first he did not
recognize the voice of God. How often
this is the case. Sometimes FOR years
we grope about in the darkness, with
out knowing whether II is the voice of
God that calls us to His work. But
when God wants a man His voice is
recognized sooner or later. But IL God
is calling us to enter the gospel min
istry, how may we know it? Eli re-
vealed the voice of God to Samuel.
Who will reveal it TO US? Three prac-
teal tests viii probably answer this
question: % An overwhelming desire
to preach the gospel for Christ's sake
and that of the unsayed. (2) Natural
qualifications. 3l Opportunities. But
we may rest assured that IL God Is
calling us He will make the oppor-
tunity for us. Samuel had the desire
and ability, and the opportunity came.
3. Samuel responded to the call OF
God Willingly and enthusiastically
he entered the service OF God and gave
his entire life to His service. and God
crowned his life with success and with
henors. Ii by desire. ability AMI OPP
portunity God Is calling US til His
service. especially In the gospel min
istry, let us respond to His call and
dedicate our lives to this glorious work.
There never were better opportunities
for young men in the gospel ministry
than today. Schools of law. of medl-
cine, of science and art are overcrowd-
ed. This is. however, far from the
case in our theological seminaries.
Here there is falling off. The min
istry is not overcrowded. There are
not too many churches. God and His
church today call for workers as clear
~ as God called for Samuefs service.
The great Christian denominations
stand ready to help in educational prep
aration all those who. having piety and
ability. apply at their doors. Who will
respond? Young men, Junior boys, is
not God calling you? If so, will you
not initiate SamueFs example and re-
spond?
BIBLE READINGS
Deut. V, 16; III Kings xxi. 1-6; Ps. i.
1-6; viii, Is; Prov. !, SIG: vi, 20-23;
EccL xii, /; Mark II. IA; Eph. vi. Is;
Col. i'll, 20; ii Tim. |, 3-5; lii, 10-17.