“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”
Exodus 3:4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “ Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.”
1 Samuel 3:4 Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
1 Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
Acts 9:4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?
Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”
Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Mat 4:18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
There was a Call from God and the reply was “here am I”. There is a call from Jesus was “come follow me” and the response was “they followed”. These calls came as these men were in their normal everyday activities. Their responses would indicate a willingness and even possibly wanting to hear from God. I am not so sure any of them were sitting around and had a conscious thought “if God calls to me I am going to say here am I”. I think they were more inclined to believe there was a living God and they had reverence in their heart for Him in such a way that their ears, eyes, heart, mind, and soul were open.
Here I am – I don’t know what you want but I want you to know I am listening.
Here I am – I know you are God or from God
Here I am – I want to hear what you say
Here I am – I am willing to do what you ask
Here I am – I am willing to go where you send me
Here I am – I want to do what you ask of me
Here I am – lead me, I want to follow you
Here I am – use me
I wonder if our ears are able to hear God calling. I wonder if we are seeking to hear God speak into our life. I wonder if we are willing to be led. I wonder if we would follow. I wonder if we want to be used by God for His glory and honor.
It is so easy to get caught up so tight in life and things of this world that we have closed our ears and are deaf to God’s calling. Is our heart so hardened that His call and love falls on a heart of stone and deaf ears?
Many, me included, had hearts hard as stone and were not giving a single conscious thought about God when His word broke through the heart of stone and brought understanding and knowledge of the need for forgiveness and salvation. What we see many times as a heart of stone no man could change, God, in a moment, softens their heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we think there is no possible way fora lost sinner’s soul to respond “here am I,, save me” God does the impossible work in their heart and mind so that they see the need. They are changed in that moment of confession and trust in Jesus Christ. Never to be the same again. At least we hope not.
It is an intentional walk with God each day to have our ears open to hear His word come alive into our life. It is an intentional heart and mind that seeks and desires to hear and be lead by God.
Be intentional in reverence, listening, following, and obeying His call into your life each day.