Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director
Isaiah 6:5-8 (ESV)
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Faced with the greatness of God’s holiness, we instantly realize our un-holiness. We join Isaiah and cry out, “Woe is me!” Quite literally this phrase means, I’m doomed. And we are, but for the grace and forgiveness of God. As God’s messenger, Isaiah experienced a vision that brought him before God’s holiness. As a result, the magnitude of his human sin and shame was unbearable. Then, in a moment, an amazing transformation took place. The narrative changed; “who am I, Lord” became “here am I, Lord.”
What changed? Unworthiness became worthy. Unclean became clean. Unholy became holy. How was this possible? How is this possible for us today? Today, the same Mighty God still extends holy tongs from his altar. Through Jesus Christ, our guilt is taken away, and our sin is atoned for–He is our live burning coal. In Christ, we are made worthy before our Almighty God.
Only God can transform a heart. What is your response to God’s work in your life? What is your response upon reading His Word? Go and share it—you don’t need an untainted past, higher education, or gifted speech to qualify. Our qualification to share the Good News comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:4). Becoming a willing messenger begins with saying yes. Isaiah modeled this in his response. And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
By nature we are sinful and like Isaiah, we dwell in a land of unclean lips. It is not easy to stay in the mindset of God’s holiness. Our guilt is removed, yet satan likes to remind us of our past in hopes that memories of previous shame will render us ineffective. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Spending daily time before God through His Word and in prayer keeps our hands ready to raise at His call. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we will learn of God’s character, His truth, and His gospel message. We will find that our lips are full and ready to share often as we go about in our day.
Let’s follow Isaiah and learn to raise our hands when God calls. Here I am. I am willing, Lord. Send me! When we find ourselves thinking, “who am I to talk of God’s ways when I’ve gotten them all wrong so many times,” let us remember the cleansing singe of Christ upon our lips. You and I are qualified to raise our hand!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, Thank you for your redeeming love. I praise Your Great Name today! Thank you for washing me clean in the blood of Jesus. Ready my heart to answer your call to share Your Good News. I stand ready to serve you because of Your great work not mine. Here I am, Lord. Send me!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”