Here I am!

Marilyn Appleby 

The end of the last verse in our reading from Isaiah says this: ‘Here I am Lord, send me.’ I used to have a book called : Here I am Lord—send somebody else!’ I will probably have to buy it again as I probably lent it to someone but cannot remember who!!

It is interesting to note that God asks ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ He didn’t ask Isaiah directly to go or do anything. Isaiah clearly heard God’s voice, but he was not pressured into responding.

It is the same for us - how much better it is when we respond willingly to God’s call without putting up a fight or feeling that serving Him is something we have to do.

God’s question: ‘Whom shall I send?’ is aimed at all Christians in all church settings. We are all called to serve in some way or another, but not forced to do so. When someone offers to do something for any of us, how wonderful does that feel? When someone willingly shares our load, how grateful we feel!

I wonder, is God is waiting for you and me to serve Him, our church and each other voluntarily without being coerced!