Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll consider availing ourselves to be chosen by God.

In today’s scripture, Isaiah 6:8 (ERV), the Prophet Isaiah said…
Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Who can I send? Who will go for us?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

Consider…
Today is draft day in the NFL! It’s an exciting time for teams, players and fans. However, it occured to me that teams can only draft players that made themselves available. That fact made me think of today’s verse, where the Prophet Isaiah availed himself to be used by God.

It also makes me think of Apostles who opened some of their letters declaring themselves slaves of God…

• Romans 1:1 (NLT)…This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.
• James 1:1 (NLT)…This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
• Jude 1:1 (NLT)…This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 1:1 (NLT)…This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

The reason I think of these Apostles in the same way I think of players availing themselves to be drafted, is because they declared themselves as willing subjects of their Master, just like players or agreeing to have the next 4 to five years of their lives controlled by whichever team chooses them.

When’s the last time you declared yourself a slave to Christ?

Did you know that seeing ourselves as slaves of God, is one of the views He wants us to have as believers.

Romans 6:22 (NLT) explains…
But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

And 1 Peter 2:16 (NLT) explains…
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

So why does God want us to be willing slaves? I believe it’s because willing slaves agree to be chosen by their Master and available to be used as He chooses.

So I’ll ask again, when’s the last time you declared yourself a slave to Christ?

Speaking of Christ, did you know becoming a slave to our Master follows His example. Philippians 2:5‭-‬8 (NLT) explains…
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the HUMBLE POSITION OF A SLAVE and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

This passage, reveals Jesus’ willing obedience to God, availing Him to His Father’s will and plan.

However, Jesus’ humble submission wasn’t easy. We know that based on His agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before His excruciating crucifixion. Remember, Jesus prayed…
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” – Luke 22:42 NLT

Talk about an availability declaration! Our prayer should also be, “Lord, I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Because Jesus availed himself to the Father, 1 Peter 1:18‭-‬20 (NLT) says…
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God CHOSE HIM AS YOUR RANSOM long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

So, on this day when young men’s lives and fortunes will be monumentally changed, when their name is called, remember the Lord is waiting for you to declare yourself available for Him to call your name too.

Only the available can be chosen!

Today’s song is….
I’m Available To You

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)