'I am available and I am willing'
Who am I?
This is a question I ask, possibly more often than needed, but truly, who am I to bear the name of my savior? Am I a man of great stature, well respected in the community? Am I a man who draws immense crowds as I speak the words of the kingdom? Have I walked righteously all the days of my life?
No, none of these things, so who am I Lord that you would choose me? See I imagine that same question must have gone through the disciples heads on many occasions. Who am I but a poor fisherman, a corrupt tax collector, who am I but the little brother of the man who would change everything.
It really is a silly question because when we dig into the root of it, I think we all will come to the same answer … I’m nobody. I’m no-one special, most anybody could do my job ten times better, but, it is not, and has not ever been a matter of who I am, but of who He is. For He is greatness in and of itself. He is joy, patience, kindness, power, wisdom, I would go on, but the words would flow off of this page past my allotted space.
My point, it is our very (lets call it) worthlessness that allows His light to shine. We look at the story of Gideon, a nobody among nobodies. A man who’s last desire ever was to be in a place of leadership, to be used by God. For he was found hiding in the bottom of a wine barrel.
And when he raised up armies, we see, “The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.” (Judges 7:2 NLT)
Time and time again we see God picking nobodies to transform nations. It’s by design, it’s with great purpose. So let’s transform the question, don’t ask Who am I, ask, “Who have you called me to be.”
It doesn’t always happen all at once, we don’t always see our destiny laid out before us like a roadmap just waiting to get to the end of our journey, it starts with a openness to approach the throne; a boldness to ask Him to use us. All that it takes is to say, “I am available and I am willing.
I think upon Samuel, upon Moses, upon Isaiah each used the same phrase, “Here I am.” It’s a proclamation to the almighty of willingness. Willingness to be seen, and to walk in obedience as He gives loving, guiding instruction. In the words of Isaiah, I encourage each of you today, humble in spirit to declare, “Here I am, send me!”
Justin Gardner pastors at River of Life Fellowship, 702 Church St., Sandpoint. The church can be reached at 208-255-7111.