Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Would you like to respond to God like that? Many would and I’d love for everyone to have a calling and to be faithful to that calling. There is nothing more satisfying than to obey God. So why are so many Christians less than filled with joy?

When I was first baptized I had church leadership tell me I was being called into the missionary field. My response to them was, “I haven’t heard God calling.” Men have plans, men have agendas, men have quotas, and men have men to answer to in their ministries. While it might feel good to be chosen by people you respect, you should prayerfully submit yourself to the Lord before taking on anything.

Isaiah was prepared to answer God’s call because of the time he had spent before God in faithful obedience to his relationship with God, not his title or position. Granted it is easier to listen to and respond to men than it is God, but it is less satisfying also.

First seek ye the Kingdom means making Jesus Lord. Once you have made Him Lord you are subject to His commands. How can you respond to those commands, to go and do according to His will, if you don’t spend time in His presence? How will you know His voice if you do not practice listening?

The greatest witness to this I ever saw was a successful business man, a leader in the community, upon accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was told how much the church could use him. He said, “I don’t need a job, I need a Savior.”

That man understood priority.