Here am I. Send me! - 6 March 2009

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8

Whereas Jeremiah heard the call of God and initially tried to negotiate, Isaiah responds by putting up his hand, jumping up and down and shouting, “Pick me, pick me!” I’m not sure he even knew at that stage what he was volunteering for.  God called and Isaiah responded, with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude.

But we tend not to be so reckless.  We don’t like sticking our neck out, we tend to be conservative and reserved.  We like to know what’s involved before we say yes; and we do like our rather comfortable lifestyles.

Jesus said, “Follow me.”  Jesus wants us to follow him with all that we are; to respond to his call with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude.  He says some fairly radical things about the cost of being a disciple; how much of a cost are we willing to pay?  We set limits on what we do or give or volunteer for because of the things that we are not prepared to give up. We find it hard to step out of our comfort zones because of what it might cost us one way or another.

Today, take time to reflect on how much you would be prepared to give up for Jesus, to answer his call.  Or perhaps what it is that you would not be prepared to give up.

The next time God calls take the challenge and in faith step out of your comfort zone and see where God takes you.

Lord, helps us respond to your call with all that we are; help us give all of ourselves to you.

Amen