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.

Numbers 16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

I’m a …., my father was a …., his father was a …., and my son will be a ….!

I don’t care what you fill the blanks in with. It could be farmer, mechanic, banker, lawyer, doctor, or even a priest. Do you find you identity in history? Perhaps you find your identity in what you believe. I’m a climatologist. I’m a naturalist. I’m a scientologist.

Moses was speaking to a generation of men who declared themselves holy. To be honest, I don’t believe that most men declare themselves to be holy because of their identity. Holiness might not even fit into a description of their lives. Holiness isn’t part of many conversations. I dare say it is not because of this one thing, God declares who is holy and who is not. It is declared, not earned.

I am chosen of God sounds like pride. There is no humility in that declaration. I am a sinner saved by grace sounds more suitable. It has the ring of humility which is both truth and easy to live with. If you were to ask me if I am holy, I’d have to answer, only because God declare it so. Once again, that sounds good and takes all the responsibility off of me.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Finding your identity in Christ means destroying your former identity and the acts thereof.