Available People

Moses (Num 12:3; Heb 11:25–26). To Moses, availability meant self-denial and great hardship to accomplish the plan of God.

David (2Sa 10:11; 1Sa 16:13; 1Sa 17:37). In the battle with Goliath, there was only one person available for the fight: David. What made David so great? The fact that he stepped out of a multitude of warriors and said, “I’ll be the one.” Any other person could have stepped forward and accomplished the task. But David made the voluntary decision to be great.

Elijah (1Ki 17:2–3; 1Ki 17:8–9). Elijah is considered by many the greatest prophet of the Jews. What made him great? He followed instructions. God told him to go to the brook Cherith, and he went to the brook Cherith. God told him to go to Zarephath, he went to Zarephath—no argument, no complaint; he just obeyed. He was available.

Isaiah (Isa 6:8). The great statement of Isaiah’s availability was so simple: “Here am I. Send me!”

Esther (Est 4:16). Esther was one of the great ladies of the Old Testament. She faced something that could have meant her death, and she said, “If I perish, I perish.” She chose to be available.

Mary (Luk 1:38). When Mary was told that she, a virgin, would bear a child, she said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” She would face slander and maligning, but she was willing to pay the price.

Paul (2Ti 4:16). Though at his last trial everyone deserted him, Paul remained available to God. Throughout his ministry, Paul had poured out his life for the people to whom he took the Gospel (1Th 2:8), and because all along the line he had made decisions for service, he knew at the end that reward was waiting (2Ti 4:6–8).