I have been meditating on Samuel recently. The story of how he was called to be a prophet is exiting and touching. At the very first word he received from the Lord he had to take up the cross of the prophet. The very first time the Lord spoke to him he experienced the prophet’s cross, the having unwelcome truth to give to those he loved, honoured and feared. Naturally his first reaction was fear and a desire to keep silet, when he heard the message of the Lord concerning Eli and his family. However, at a direct question he told Eli what the Lord had said. He did not add anything and he did not subtract anything. In spite of his natural fear, he took upon himself the cross and was prepared for the worst to happen to him when he delivered the Word of the Lord to his superior supervisor.

The cross of the prophet is to deliver unpleasant words to those we love, knowing the word may hurt but if received in a beautiful heart it will bring restoration and redemption. Even though a word seems to be hard to bring, when we take up the prophet’s cross, we will experience resurrection life.