Everyday Stars: First Responders

You shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'

Isaiah 58:9 (NKJV)

God tested Abraham, and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.'

Genesis 22:1 (NKJV)

God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, 'Jacob, Jacob!' And he said, 'Here I am.'

Genesis 46:2 (NKJV)

God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.'

Exodus 3:4 (NKJV)

The Lord called Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!'

1 Samuel 3:4 (NKJV)

I heard the Voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'

Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)

Everyday stars are prime-time responders. They stand up, speak up and always respond. They ‘Act in return or in answer' (American Heritage Dictionary).

They step forward for calls most others refuse… for crucial causes most others reject.

Such as?

  • Sheltering impoverished immigrants,

  • Standing up to confront impassioned mobs.

  • Exposing hypocritical leaders.

  • Attending to the cries of the lonely.

  • Visiting invalids and prisoners,

  • Answering God’s call IMMEDIATELY.

  • Sacrificing their lives to save strangers. 

Didn't Jesus respond in all these ways?

God says, 'Many are called, but few are chosen' (Matthew 22:14). Is His 'choosing' tied to our responding? Certainly, we serve THE First Responder.

In The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Jesus says: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come' (Matthew 22:2-3).

God's judgment for their unresponsiveness? 'Those who were invited were not worthy' (v.8).

In The Parable of the Great Supper, 'A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all with one accord began to make excuses' (Luke 14:16-18).

God's judgment for their unresponsiveness? 'I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper' (v.24).

God doesn't ask us to do anything that He hasn't done or wouldn’t do FIRST!

Therefore, CHOOSING TO RESPOND… is an attribute of everyday stars.

Everyday Stars: First Responders (Part 2)

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey ArbanComment