AUGUST MEMORY VERSE

Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

In this month’s memory verse, God approached Isaiah in a vision or dream through the Holy Spirit. Because Isaiah believed God is the sovereign ruler of the universe, he was ready to respond to God’s calling.

Shouldn’t we also be saying, “Send me”? Through our developing relationship with Christ, we should always be listening for His voice. Listening is not a passive endeavor—through Bible study, Christian volunteer work, prayer, and association with other Christians we actively listen to the Lord.

Thirty-some years ago, I attended a retreat featuring speaker Bob Buford, author of the book Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance. It seemed an appropriate approach when retiring from one’s career. I introspectively asked myself if it was my time to serve through volunteering. Could this be my way of saying thank you for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His gift of grace?

My mission exposure began in 2005 when my son, a neighbor, and I drove two SUVs loaded with supplies from our Illinois church to the Hurricane Katrina-affected areas in Louisiana and Mississippi. After that experience, I became involved in disaster relief with the Presbytery of Mississippi, which led to fifteen trips across affected areas. Eventually, this led to being part of the Samaritan’s Purse relief programs in New Orleans, and since, I have been deployed to sixteen states, as well as the Bahamas and Haiti.

No matter the cause of the disaster (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires), the people affected in those situations have significant needs, sometimes to the point of desperation. They need help restoring their property and navigating the financial and organizational aspects of doing so. Perhaps even more importantly, they need someone to listen to them, pray with them, and give them hope. Volunteers can be the hands and feet of Christ and minister to these families. Approaching relief efforts with an open mind is key—always allowing God to be in charge as He guides us through the process. Franklin Graham reminded us that we are not there to take advantage of the people suffering from a disaster; we are there to take advantage of a disaster to reach the people with the hope we have in Christ.

So, listen for the Lord’s direction…He has plans for sending each of us. As the apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

by Paul Spinka