Here I Am

 

This week I've been focused on the call of the prophet Isaiah. More specifically, I've been focused on Isaiah's response to God's call on him. 

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

We read this same passage on Sunday morning and the challenge given to our church family was to daily read this passage and to daily respond to God's call, "Here I am. Send me!"

Just this morning, as I read this passage again, I was reminded of the call of Moses - and of Moses' response to God's call on him. 

So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Exodus‬ ‭3:3-4‬

Similar to Isaiah, Moses responds, "Here I am.", yet Moses' response stops there. Moses tells God, essentially, "I am present", but his commitment to God is lacking. 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

‭Exodus‬ ‭3:11‬

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?

Exodus‬ ‭3:13‬

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?

Exodus‬ ‭4:1‬

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:10‬

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else."

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:13‬

Moses responds, "Here I am. Who am I that I should go? What would I say? What if they don't listen? What if they don't believe me? I'm not a good speaker? Please send someone else." 

God call each one of us. He has a specific purpose and path for every individual that He has created and given life to. And when God calls us, we are challenged to respond to His call, "Here I am. Send me!", just as Isaiah did. 

Yet, believers in Christ mimic the response - the attitude, the actions, and even the words - of Moses; "Here I am. Send someone else."

Week after week, believers show up in church buildings and respond "I am present" but when God calls them to worship - when God calls them to share - when God calls them to love - when God calls them to go  - they respond "Not me.". 

"Present" is not acceptable! It's time - now more than ever - for The Church to hear the call of God and respond - in a bold voice, "Here I am. Send me!" 

Let the response begin with you. Let it begin today. 

The Shepherds Acted Inwardly

This Christmas season the sermon series on Sunday mornings are focused on Luke 2 and specifically on the response; the response that the shepherds had to the message they heard and the response that we must also take to the message of Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:8-11 says: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

The shepherds were...ordinary men...living ordinary lives...doing ordinary tasks.

In the middle of the night it was...quiet...dark...and still

And an angel of The Lord appears to them. And the glory of the Lord came to them.

And their initial reaction was...TERROR!

The angel announces to them...comfort...goodness...and joy. But also...a sign...and an invitation.

Luke 2:12 says: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Jesus birth was a sign...of God's promises fulfilled...of Jesus' humility...and of Jesus' humanity.

And because of these signs, the angel extends an invitation to the shepherds; "you will find a baby". But, the shepherds would only "find a baby" if they responded to the message...in faith and I'm action.

But, these shepherds were terrified. What could take them from their state of terror to a state of faith and action?

Luke 2:13-14 says: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

This one angel is joined by a great company of angels proclaiming praise to God...glory to God...and peace to men.

But this is not peace on earth as many understand it today, it is a peace that comes through...this invitation of Christ...forgiveness of our sins...freedom from this world...the control of God...the security in eternity...and a response to God.

And, this peace only comes when we first make peace with God. When we give Him all the glory, with our lives and our actions.

And that's what the shepherds did, they responded.

Luke 2:15 says: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The shepherds responded inwardly. They said to one another...let's go...let's see.

Let's go and see what the...glory of The Lord I'd all about...glory of the Lord has brought to us...Lord's comfort and joy is...Lord's peace is.

You see, the shepherds had to respond to the message of Jesus Christ. And so do we!

How will we act inwardly this Christmas season?

Will will continue to go and see?

Will we continue to act?

Will we continue to respond to the glory of God?