Available, Here Am I

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). I have a dear friend who is an evangelist who will travel to any state when requested to perform a funeral, all because he was asked. Since he was called to the ministry over 45 years ago, he has done this because of his love for the individual and their family. He is not paid to do this, but trusts God will meet his needs when traveling. His ultimate goal is to glorify God and to tell folks about our Jesus, which should be a goal for us all. My friend has made himself available to preach and has become a fisher of men. “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him” (Mark 1:17-18). His soon-to-become disciples immediately followed Jesus. They didn’t ask “why” or ask “how about tomorrow” or “let me think about it”—they acted immediately. They made themselves available. The Bible is filled with many more examples of people who have allowed the Lord to use them: • Abraham made himself available when the angel of the LORD called, with the response “Here am I” (Genesis 22:11). • Jacob was also called when “the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I” (Genesis 31:11). • And young Samuel also answered and said “Here am I” when he was called of God (1 Samuel 3:4). How about you? Have you been called? Have you made yourself available? Jesus wants to take you fishing. Our response? “Here am I. I’m available.”