Available

​Kathy’s birthday was last Sunday. I’m sure she resigned herself to a lonely day, after all, her husband was in Minnesota and none of her children live close.  Cissy, Charlie, Brian, Chad, Roger, Sharil and Paula bought a cake, wrote her a poem, gave her a plaque and took time to come to her apartment and spring a wonderful surprise.  She cried so hard they cried!  
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John and Denise had to leave their home and find a place to store their stuff until they could get into another rental.  Charlie and Cis, Will, John, Kevin and Kendy sacrificed their time to help make the move happen.

Meditation
Romans 12:1—Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.   
 
One of the things I love about The Road Home is observing the lives of the people who frequently and faithfully make themselves available to serve.  Kathleen every Saturday night teaches the children.  I can count on the fact that she and Beth will be bringing some homemade dessert or scrumptious munchies.  Don and Beth and Pat and Paula will have opened their homes for fellowship to others in the body.  Sam will have worked together a solid set of worship songs to joyfully lead us. Whether it’s hospitality, sharing Scripture, lifting loads or just interacting, fellowship is made sweet on the journey to Jesus by availability. 

I don’t think Jesus keeps attendance records in heaven on who showed up for church. I believe He is far more interested in who arrives when problems or opportunities sprout. Because that’s what He did—He identified needs and met them.  He fed the masses, healed the sick, vanquished demons, taught the lost and encouraged the hurting.  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

God made His Son available 24/7. He was on hand to be adored, followed, respected, worshiped, feared and loved.  But He didn’t just make time for the children or to train the faithful. He also showed up to be criticized, mocked, slandered, beaten, spit on, cursed and crucified.   If His resume says nothing about vacation time, possessions accumulated, or winning rabbi of the year awards we might ought to take notice. Jesus never copped the “I’m too busy to be the Messiah today” attitude.  He gave His all for His Father!  

Availability is the antidote to busyness and the aroma of worship.  It starts by a willingness to suppress fleshly wishes in order to help others.  It is correctly fashioned by sensitively listening to the Holy Spirit for His directions.  It is voluntary, cheerful obedience.  Instead of building “My Space,” it builds His will.   It is not about carving time once a week for church and checking off “God-time” as good.  It is about hourly willingness to serve however the Master leads—in small ways and big ways whether inconvenienced or compensated.  What matters is that we are willing to be instruments in the hands of God to further His kingdom. 

God calls us to be living sacrifices.  To fulfill this calling we must be available!  One cannot die on an altar by abstention or please the Father with excuses. We are to make use of ourselves while we have the opportunity.  If the royal law is to love the Lord our God wholeheartedly,wholesouledlyand wholemindedlywe have to be whollyavailable for Him.  If the royal law is to love our neighbors as ourselves, neighbor service is mandatory. If we don’t have time for the people who don’t have Jesus maybe we should ask ourselves if Jesus has us. If we don’t have time for the people who have Jesus maybe we should ask ourselves who we are worshiping. If we don’t have time for Jesus, maybe we should ask if He will have eternity for us.   
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God, by Your mercy, help us be available to serve so the world will see more of Your Son!
 
Inspiration
In a world where people are ruled by their calendars and the rule of the calendar is “No more—all full,” is it reasonable to expect people to make spiritual growth a top priority?—George Barna in Growing True Disciples
 
©2007 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)