Here I am

Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. – 1 Samuel 3.6-8

What really jumps out at me here is an attitude that Samuel has while he was young. I should have done this yesterday and it would have made more sense, because in verse 10 we see Samuel responding to the Lord’s call.

But even before that we see something about Samuel’s attitude that shows he was ready for service.

Over and over Samuel says ‘here I am’ when he was called. He didn’t crawl deeper under the duvet. He didn’t fake being asleep. He simply jumped up and said ‘Here I am.’

It is this willing attitude that God wants to use. It’s the kind of attitude that when a volunteer is needed says ‘Here I am, I’ll do it.’ It is the Isaiah like attitude that answers God’s call for workers – ‘Here am I Lord, send me.’

It is the kind of attitude expressed in the hymn ‘Here I Am Lord.’

Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if You lead me.

I will hold Your people in my heart.

Do you and I have that ‘here I am’ spirit?