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Reflections: Daily Devotions in Disability Ministry

Pick Me! Pick Me!

August 31, 2010

Isaiah 6:8
Then I [Isaiah] heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send Me!” (NIV)

Remember Isaiah? When he saw God, he was afraid he wasn’t good enough. God’s angel purified him with a hot coal and said his sin was taken away. What a gift God gave! Then, when God wanted a messenger, Isaiah was happy to say he was ready to be sent.

Pete and Sam were in the 5th grade, the year they would be able to join the basketball team – if they were good enough. Pete and Sam practiced together for several months. Pete could dribble the ball up and down the court, and could also shoot from many places on the basketball court. At times, Sam would just hang his head and say, “You’re too good for me. I’ll never make the team.”

Pete told Sam, “You need something you can be the best at, better than anyone else. Then the coach will pick you.” So Pete taught Sam how to shoot free throws.

Pete gave up some of his practice time to show Sam how to hold the ball just right and aim just over the rim of the basket. He’d get the balls for Sam so he could keep practicing. And you know what? Before long, Sam could make free throws almost every time. One day, he made 9 out of 10 shots.

At tryouts, Pete was picked right away. Soon all the spots were full but one. The choice was between Sam and three other boys. The coach asked, “What can you do to be a help to this team?”

The other boys had to think. Sam yelled out, “Free throws!”

“OK,” the coach said, “show me!” Sam shot 10 times and made all 10. The coach said, “Sam, you’re on the team!”

Pete had given Sam a gift. Giving him his know-how and his practice time, Pete had let Sam be an expert, the best he could be. Because of that gift, the coach had picked him and put him on the team.

God’s gift to us is forgiveness. Jesus died to make us pure. God’s people. Ready to help Him. Like Isaiah, we can say, “Here I am – send me!”

Dear God, thank You for the gift of Jesus in our hearts. Our sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit lives in us. That’s the gift You gave. We can only say “Send Me!” Amen.

Rev. Phil Gruenbaum, Ministry Consultant – IL
http://bethesdalutherancommunities.org/resources/spiritualResources/pmc.asp

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