One proclamation announces availability to and for God: Here am I – or Here I am! From Abraham to Moses to Samuel to Isaiah and eventually to Jesus Himself, those obedient to God’s call say so – with this declaration. How does Jesus Himself provide insight into such a response – when in Revelation 3 He proclaims Here I Am to the church? What does it mean for each – and what can it mean when we utter this proclamation today?
Receive
A simple, yet profound proclamation announces availability to and for God: Here am I or Here I am! From Abraham to Moses to Samuel to Isaiah and eventually to Jesus Himself, those obedient to God’s call say so with this declaration. And they get to see how God provides for their needs when they answer His call.
The responses from these Bible figures can be examples of how we can respond when we feel God calling us.
Instead of running or hiding from God, let’s prayerfully and boldly respond to God with our own Here I am!
Reflect
* What was God’s purpose in this exchange with Abraham in Genesis 22:1–18 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022%3A1-18&version=NIV )?
* How does God respond to Jacob’s fear in Genesis 46:1–7 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2046%3A1-7&version=NIV )?
* In Exodus 3:1–10 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%203%3A1-10&version=NIV ), why did Moses respond the way he did? How did God respond to Moses?
* Why was it difficult for young Samuel to recognize it was God calling him in 1 Samuel 3:1–21 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%203%3A1-21&version=NIV )?
* Based on Isaiah 6:1–8 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3A1-8&version=NIV ), how was Isaiah able to go from, “Woe to me,” to “Here am I?”
* How does Jesus’ “Here am I” in Revelation 3:20 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203%3A20&version=NIV ) influence our own “Here I am?”
Respond
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)
“Dear God, thank You for calling me to follow and serve You! Help me to have the courage to say, “Here I am,” whenever I hear you calling me. Help me to remember that You will help and equip me to answer Your call on my life.”
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources
Mentioned in this episode:
* Our Daily Bread subscription ( https://www.odbm.org/en/getprint )
Listen:
* Answer the Call ( https://www.odbm.org/en/podcasts/discover-the-word-podcast/91-answer-the-call-discover-the-word-podcast-our-daily-bread )
* Changing Your Life for the Call of God with Dr. Bridget Kolade ( https://www.odbm.org/en/podcasts/our-daily-bread-africa-webinar-series/changing-your-life-for-the-call-of-god-with-dr-bridget-kolade )
Read:
* Called by God ( https://www.odbm.org/en/reading-plans/my-utmost-for-his-highest-modern-classic-part-1/called-by-god )
* When God Calls Us Out of Comfort ( https://www.odbm.org/en/article/when-god-calls-us-out-of-comfort )
Watch:
* Outside Your Comfort Zone | Acts 10 ( https://www.odbm.org/en/daily-devo-videos/outside-your-comfort-zone-acts-10 )
* A Call to Something New | Matthew 4:19-22 ( https://www.odbm.org/en/daily-devo-videos/matthew-419-22-a-call-to-something-new )