In Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) we read ` Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (NLT)
The Message Bible reads: He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal and said, “Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!”
This is one of my favorite passages of the Bible, we see that God asked a question and a willing and listening heart had to give the answer. It is in that answer that we see the heart of a willing servant ready to be used by God in any situation or capacity that God deemed necessary.
A few years ago we studied this scripture as a family in school with our kids, and at the GEMS group where I lead. We talked a lot about what it means to have a heart where you will truly follow God no matter His path. We asked the kids what if it meant following God into danger? Or into a neighbourhood where you’re going to be unpopular? The kids said, Well I will follow God no matter what. As adults have we set our hearts to do the same? Are we ready to have our lives stripped from us, for sake of the call God places there? I think of all the martyrs, who could have renounced God and lived, but instead said “Here I am. Send Me!”
As a family, about a year ago this became our nightly prayer, “Lord, We are yours, use us.” What we didn’t know was how God would use us. We knew these words were ones we couldn’t speak lightly or ignore when God started to lead us. They also brought us to many moments where we questioned if we were hearing from God or just following our own leading. God has taken us through some pretty big leaps of faith, but the blessings He has poured out on us as a result have been amazing, He has caused our lives to overflow in so many areas.
I pray today that your heart will be to say “Here I am Lord, Send me!” and allow Him to use you in your church, your family and your job, wherever He takes you.
Blessings dear friends,
Pastor Joan