Saying Here Am I Send Me

2 Nephi 16:8 - "Also 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."

Elder James E. Faust - "Some of the most rewarding times of our lives are those 'extra mile' hours given in service when the body says it wants to relax, but our better self emerges and says, 'Here am I; send me.'"

Seek this Jesus - A Book of Mormon Daily Podcast invites you to discover the joy and guidance that comes from studying the Book of Mormon everyday. This podcast would hope to just be a supplement to your studies. 

For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click here.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

For more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Welcome to Seek This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

There are times in life when we know what is right, but we hesitate to act. We may feel unworthy, too busy, too tired, or unsure whether we are capable. Yet one of the greatest blessings of the Savior's grace is that when we are forgiven and cleansed, we become more willing to follow. Forgiveness does more than remove guilt, it changes our hearts, it softens us, humbles us, and makes us more ready to do what God asks. Isaiah had just experienced that kind of cleansing. He saw his own weakness and felt unclean in the presence of God. Then the Lord purified him. After that cleansing came a question from heaven. The Lord asked who would go and serve. Isaiah's answer came quickly. He did not wait to know every detail, he did not ask for easier conditions, he simply offered himself to the Lord. Second Nephi sixteen eight. Also 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. As we study this verse today, along with teachings from Elder James E. Faust, we will consider what it means to willingly offer ourselves to the Lord. One of the most important parts of this verse is that Isaiah's willingness came after he had been cleansed. Earlier in the chapter Isaiah recognized his sins and weaknesses. He felt unworthy in the presence of God. But the Lord did not leave him in that condition. He forgave him, purified him, and prepared him. That pattern matters for us. Sometimes we assume that because we have weaknesses we cannot serve well. We may think we need to become perfect before we can help, teach, minister, lead, or strengthen others. But the Lord often works differently. He forgives us, strengthens us, and then invites us to move forward in faith. The Lord does not only call people who feel fully prepared. He calls people who are willing. Isaiah did not say send someone better. He did not say I am not ready. He said here am I, send me. That is the spirit of discipleship. It is the attitude that says we are willing to do what the Lord asks, even when it stretches us. We may not know exactly how things will work out, but we trust that if the Lord asks us to do something, He will also help us do it. We also see this same pattern in the premortal life. Jehovah volunteered to be the Savior of the world. He was willing to do the Father's will from the beginning. He offered himself freely, knowing the suffering and sacrifice that would be required. Isaiah's words echo that same spirit of willing obedience. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are invited to develop that same attitude. We may never be asked to do something as great as Isaiah or as sacred as the Savior's mission, but we are asked to serve in smaller daily ways. We are asked to forgive, to minister, to teach, to sacrifice, and to bless those around us. There is something powerful about that phrase. Here am I. It is not just a statement about location, it is a statement about availability. Isaiah was telling the Lord that he was ready, willing, and open to serve. Often the greatest opportunities to serve do not come in traumatic moments. They come in ordinary moments. They come when someone needs encouragement, when a family member needs help, when a calling requires extra effort, or when someone needs a listening ear. Elder James E. Faust taught.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

Some of the most rewarding times of our lives are those extra mile hours given in the service when the body says it wants to relax, but our better self emerges and said, Here am I, send me.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

That quote helps us see that service is not always convenient. Sometimes the Lord's invitations come when we are tired, busy, or focused on ourselves. Yet many of the moments that bless us the most are the moments when we choose to act anyway. There are times when we may feel prompted to make a phone call, send a text, visit someone, accept a responsibility, or help with something that feels inconvenient. In those moments we have a choice. We can focus on what we want, or we can respond with willingness. The Lord often works through willing people. He may not always need the most talented person, the most experienced person, or the person with the most time. Many times he simply needs someone who will say yes. When we live this way, service stops feeling like an interruption. It becomes part of who we are. We begin to see ourselves as people who are available to the Lord. Today, there are many ways we can say here am I, send me. We may say it by volunteering to help in our ward, even when it feels unconvenient. We may say it by spending time with a child, listening to a spouse, or checking on a friend who is struggling. We may say it by speaking about our faith, defending what is right or quietly serving without needing recognition. There may also be times when the Lord asks us to do something that feels uncomfortable. He may ask us to forgive someone, accept a calling, share a testimony, change a habit, or move in a different direction than we expected. Those moments can feel difficult because we do not always know the outcome. But Isaiah's example reminds us that discipleship is not about having every answer before we move forward. It is about trusting the Lord enough to say yes. When we have been forgiven, when we remember the mercy the Lord has shown us, it becomes easier to serve Him. Gratitude changes us. We stop asking why do I have to do this and begin asking how can I help? The Lord is still asking whom shall I send? He is still looking for willing hearts. He is still inviting us to step forward in faith and serve where we are needed. So here is today's challenge. Take a few quiet minutes today and ask yourself where the Lord may be inviting us to serve more willingly. Think about one responsibility, prompting, relationship, or opportunity that has been easy to avoid or postpone. Then make a decision to act, reach out, help, volunteer, forgive, or serve in one specific way today. When the opportunity comes, choose to respond like Isaiah. Here am I, send me. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could. If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.