Are You Ready to Serve the Lord?

 

“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to his people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8, NLT)

One of the most common questions people ask when they join a church is how they can serve. The Lord has a job for each of us, and in His kingdom, many vacant places are waiting to be filled by His children. In Isaiah 6:8, God asks a fundamental question: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" God needed a messenger—someone willing to work and do His will. The question for us is: Who is willing to do the job? The Lord has chosen each of us for His service. There is much work to be done, and many workers are needed to do it.

Jesus Himself refers to this when He says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2). Isaiah responds to this call by saying, "Here I am, Lord, send me." He was eager to be used by the Lord and willing to work for Him. Let me tell you today that availability is the greatest need in the work of the Kingdom of God—people who are willing to serve, people ready to work for the kingdom. However, like any job, there are specific requirements and demands we must meet.

First, God's work demands a vision. Jesus instructed us to go into all the world and preach His word, baptizing the saved and teaching them to be His disciples and to serve Him. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This vision requires conviction. We must be fully convinced of the importance of spreading God's word and moving forward in His mission. Paul tells young Timothy that there will be times when people will not want to hear the truth. I believe we live in those times today. God has called us to commit ourselves to Him, to His church, and to gather together in obedience to His mandate.

Second, God's work demands spiritual vitality. The Lord imparts spiritual life to us when we are saved, but to do the work of the Lord, our spirit must be willing to work. We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. The work of the Lord calls us to live a holy and pleasing life before God, a life where He is our priority. God has placed a desire in our hearts to work for Him. When we have this spiritual desire, we want to do His work. We serve the Lord with gratitude because of the great things He has done in our lives.

Third, God's work demands availability. The Lord is looking for workers. Isaiah, transformed by grace and made alive by God's mercy, volunteers for service. He is willing to serve not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and a desire to exalt God's glory. Isaiah wants the world to know the greatness of God. His one concern is to honor the one who is most worthy of honor. God has a perfect plan and destiny for each of us.

Many of us want to approach God and enjoy all His benefits without addressing our sins. But by having a personal relationship with God, He reveals His plan to us. Before, it would have been impossible to follow His call. Now, Isaiah not only knows that God wants to use him, but he also desires to be used by God. His life would never be the same again.

The Word of the Lord tells us to make good use of the time God has given us. How do you spend the time God has given you? We must give part of our time to serve Him. We must offer God our skills and abilities. Each of us has a talent, and whatever that talent is, it must be dedicated to the Lord.

The work of the Lord demands many things. The Lord will find many qualities in us as we submit to Him. As we begin a new year, the question we need to answer is simple: Will you be like Isaiah and say, "Here I am, send me"?

May God bless you and keep you always.

Pastor Dimas

12/31/2024