WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:12-14

1 Samuel 2:12-14 says, “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.” The priests that Samuel grew up with were Eli and his sons. They operated in such a way that they could not move the Hand of God. Their actions had to make a mark on Samuel. Isn’t it interesting that Davids are usually produced under Sauls. Samuels are developed under Elis. It seems that whenever God wants to make a champion, He lets them grow up with corrupt leaders around so that the stench of their actions fills the nostrils of young men so they cannot stomach perverse behavior. They could never act like their parent or mentors because they were trained by example of what not to do. The odor of sin can be so bad that it turns a generation to the right way. Samuel was made this way, David was made this way. Today’s champions are often formed in the fire of circumstances whether there is an Eli or not. There is a generation of leaders to be trained in the Kingly Christ! The end-time harvest depends on us qualifying! Is it possible that we have Samuels and Davids waiting in the wings? As difficult, as terrible and as debilitating as God’s School of the Spirit can be, it is God’s plan to put a Rod of Iron and Rod of Integrity in our backbone to make us the champions we should become in the last days.