Availabliity

       I remember I once had a neighbor who was a member of the local fire department.  He was a volunteer and had radio equipment that notified him when there was a fire.  He would turn on the red light in his truck and set off down the road heading for the fire.  You never knew when the alarm was going to sound.  One of the most important characteristics for a volunteer fireman is availability.  If you sign up to go to a fire when it starts then you best be ready when the alarm sounds.  God also looks at our availability.  Take the case of a young man who was asleep when God came to call upon him.   First Samuel 3:8-10 says, "And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."   
     At first, young Samuel thought that it was Eli calling him.  Therefore, he would go out and ask Eli what he wanted.  After this occurring for a couple of times, Eli recognized that it was God calling and told the young Samuel what to say.  The innocent words of Samuel say it all.  "Here I am."  God had a job for young Samuel and all Samuel needed to say was, "Here I am."  When God calls, you need to be available.  You may never know when it is going to happen so you need to always be available.  It is like the volunteer fireman.  You might go on with your life as it is for a time and then God calls.  When He does, you need to respond with the same words the were uttered by young Samuel.  "Here I am."  Isaiah said the same words to God in Isaiah 6:8 when he also replied to God, "Here I am."  Then, in the New Testament, we read in Acts 16 of an evangelistic team that was inquiring of God where they should go.  The got a message from a man in Macedonia which said, "Come over and help us."  Paul and Silas headed to Macedonia.  They were available and God sent them on their way.  Are you available?  Be ready because you may have to say to God, "Here I am."  Praise God today that He still calls us.