“But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.”” – 1 Samuel 1:22

Scripture reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

This is one of those passages of Scripture which stuns us – especially if we have small children at home. Here is a mother saying she will give her only son to God, forever! In those days that meant bringing him to the High Priest and leaving him there. How could a mother do that?!

Perhaps we already know that we must do that – in a sense – with each of our children. God the Father gave up His own Son for us. Giving sacrificially is the way of the Christian (Romans 12:1, 2), and it is the way we should raise our children. Furthermore, we “give our children to God” in baptism, church attendance, catechism attendance, and so on. In one way or another, we are constantly giving them up to God.

Since that is true of parents of children, so it should be about the lesser things of life, like money, time, energy and gifts, etc. What would we withhold from Him? Hannah did actually give up Samuel. And look how the Lord blessed that sacrifice! Do we fail to give as we should because we forgot the way God is able to bless our gifts? Tomorrow, we can worship Him sacrificially in many ways. Let’s decide today that we are going to serve the Lord with open hands, ready to give all to Him.

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask the Lord to accept your sacrificial giving as an expression of thanks for all He has given you.

Rev. Harold Miller graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2001 and has served churches in Wellsburg, Iowa and Kansas City, Missouri before arriving at Oak Lawn, Illinois in 2020. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.