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Some days my Bible reading is so clear, the only right answer is a simple, "Here am I. Send me." Today is one of those days.
If you're like me, even with that kind of clarity, a bit of squirming sometimes happens first.
I had opened my Bible to Isaiah 6 where I found a dynamic picture of heaven, now turned into a popular song. I also discovered a need to confess and a call-out to exercise that powerful word “WHATEVER.”
Then verses jumped out calling me to action:
“…I saw the Lord sitting on a lofty throne
and the train of his robe filled the temple.”
ISAIAH 6:1
Are you tempted, as I was, to pause long enough to imagine the sight and join the seraphim in singing out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!”
I barely caught my breath before my next step became apparent:
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal
he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
He touched my lips with it and said, ‘…
Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.’”
ISAIAH 6:6-7
And I paused for moment, asking the Lord to reveal anything in my heart or actions that weren’t pleasing Him. And He did. I confessed, and with it came peace and freedom.
I went on thinking my morning’s devotional time was finished until I bumped into verse 8:
“Then I heard the Lord asking,
‘Whom shall I send as a messenger
to this people? Who will go for me?’”
Ah, … the finale of my quiet journaling time.
I’ve been asking the Lord to teach me more about loving others. And I’ve been learning how “interruptions” are the natural condition of selfless love. He brought two names to mind.
Isaiah nudged me to the best answer for my day when he said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’”
Today I had some plans that were not critical but would fill my day. But a friend left a message on my voice mail asking for a favor. And I saw the Lord’s lesson plans laid out for my day: praise Him, confess my sin and say “Yes” to His question of willingness.
What a powerful encounter with a worthy and loving God. I’m so grateful He never tires of teaching me the simple, Christ-following journey: Love God. Love Others.
Pull up a chair and sit still
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As you pause a few moments with the Lord, He might be asking you to also do one of the steps in Isaiah 6: Praise, Confess, Love.
I pray for you, as I do for myself, that the Lord will keep our hearts open to… “Here I am. Send me.”