"Now...God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." - Genesis 22:1
"Here I am." These three words are spoken multiple times throughout scripture by God's servants. The picture that comes to my mind is a soldier reporting to duty - ready to do whatever task the Commander sets before them, regardless the cost. Moses echoes these words when God appears to him in the burning bush - Moses obeys God's call and in God's power leads the people of Israel out of Egypt. Isaiah hears God ask whom to send to a hostile people - Isaiah says, 'Here, I am, send me.' Later, Isaiah would lose his life in God's service. In this text - following Abraham's, 'Here I am,' God asks him to sacrifice his son - Abraham obeys, trusting the goodness and wisdom of God. In the New Testament, a servant of God, Ananias, responds to a call of God with 'Here I am.' Then God asks him to minister to Saul, a man known for killing, arresting and harassing Christians. Ananias obeys - trusting the goodness and wisdom of God
I find it easy to say to God with my lips, "Here I am,' but throughout the day I am presented with hundreds of choices to prove it with my life. God give me the grace to live a 'Here I am' life before You - to live my life as if I am always on duty - always ready to let my light shine, and to live in obedience before You no matter the cost! Give me the grace to trust Your goodness and Your wisdom. Give me the grace to do so today! And when tomorrow comes, the same!
"Here I am." These three words are spoken multiple times throughout scripture by God's servants. The picture that comes to my mind is a soldier reporting to duty - ready to do whatever task the Commander sets before them, regardless the cost. Moses echoes these words when God appears to him in the burning bush - Moses obeys God's call and in God's power leads the people of Israel out of Egypt. Isaiah hears God ask whom to send to a hostile people - Isaiah says, 'Here, I am, send me.' Later, Isaiah would lose his life in God's service. In this text - following Abraham's, 'Here I am,' God asks him to sacrifice his son - Abraham obeys, trusting the goodness and wisdom of God. In the New Testament, a servant of God, Ananias, responds to a call of God with 'Here I am.' Then God asks him to minister to Saul, a man known for killing, arresting and harassing Christians. Ananias obeys - trusting the goodness and wisdom of God
I find it easy to say to God with my lips, "Here I am,' but throughout the day I am presented with hundreds of choices to prove it with my life. God give me the grace to live a 'Here I am' life before You - to live my life as if I am always on duty - always ready to let my light shine, and to live in obedience before You no matter the cost! Give me the grace to trust Your goodness and Your wisdom. Give me the grace to do so today! And when tomorrow comes, the same!