macauley
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June 29, 2009
READ: Isaiah 6:1-8
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” —Isaiah 6:8
Macauley Rivera, one of my dearest friends in Bible college, had a passion for the Savior. His heart’s desire was to graduate, marry his fiancée Sharon, return to the inner city of Washington, DC, and plant a church to reach his friends and family for Christ.
That dream ended, however, when Mac and Sharon were tragically killed in an accident, leaving the student body stunned at the loss. At Mac’s memorial service, the challenge was issued: “Mac is gone. Who will serve in his place?” As evidence of the impact of Mac’s example, more than 200 students stood to take up the mantle of Christ’s fallen servant.
The response of those students echoes the commitment of Isaiah. In a time of fear and insecurity, the prophet was summoned into the throne room of God, where he heard Him say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8).
God still calls men and women to be His ambassadors today. He challenges us to serve Him—sometimes close to home, sometimes in distant lands. The question for us is, How will we respond to His call? May God give us the courage to say, “Here am I! Send me.” — Bill Crowder
Whom God calls, He qualifies; whom He qualifies, He sends.
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June 29, 2009
READ: Luke 16:1-13
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities (v.10).
Back in the day when I played high school sports, I wanted a new baseball glove. I found the glove I wanted in a local sporting goods store and diligently saved up my money. But when the day came for the purchase, I was 15 cents short. I hadn’t accounted for the sales tax.
The store owner told me I could take the glove. But he wanted me to bring him the 15 cents when I got it. It was just 15 cents! But his request was teaching me the importance of little things.
Flash forward a dozen years. As I waited to purchase a newspaper from a coin-operated machine, the man buying a paper in front of me caught the spring-released door and held it open. He turned to look at me, offering me a “free” newspaper. I declined. It was “only” 50 cents. But it was much more than that.
In Luke 16, Jesus used a parable about a man who was more shrewd than honest to make a point about integrity. The man used his master’s finances to ensure his own financial security. But Jesus said, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (v.10).
God warned His people Israel about integrity in business dealings. “Do not use dishonest standards,” He told them. “Your scales and weights must be accurate”
(Leviticus 19:35-36).
Dishonesty in even the smallest of business transactions permits others to despise the name of the God we serve. And as the wise man said, “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1 NIV).
If you don’t have integrity in the little temptations, you won’t have a chance when the big ones come along. —Tim Gustafson
As Zacchaeus repented of having cheated people (Luke 19:8), what did he tell Jesus he would do? If you’ve been dishonest, how can you make it right?
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