Who Will Go?

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah answered God's call to be the representative of the Trinity. Just prior to the Lord's question, Isaiah had been given a vision of God that overwhelmed him. He saw God exalted, seated on the throne. He beheld God's holiness and recognized his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of the people around him. The Lord forgave Isaiah and cleansed him from all unrighteousness. Then He asked the question, "Who will go?" God could have demanded Isaiah serve Him, but He didn't. He gave Isaiah a choice. Isaiah's response shows his eagerness to serve. The Lord is still looking for volunteers; people who are willing to go into the world on His behalf. It's not a matter of how talented or educated we are, it's about how available we allow ourselves to be. We don't have to join a missionary organization, we can be used of God right where we are -- in our homes, our jobs, our neighborhoods. Are you willing to go?

The Right Kind of Vessel

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;"

2 Corinthians 4:7

The Gospel of Christ is the greatest treasure we can possess. It is our salvation for the glory of God and is to be shared with those who do not know Him. All the more for His glory! How humbling it is to know that God would entrust us with this powerful message. We are earthen vessels, completely breakable, yet made strong as we depend on God's power. J. Hudson Taylor, the beloved missionary to China, said, "All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them." Are you feeling like a weak vessel today? Praise God! You are exactly the kind of vessel God wants to use.

Don't Forget to Pray

David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?" Then the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will give them into your hand."

1 Chronicles 14:10

Four simple words: David inquired of God. It's easy to take those words for granted, to even overlook them as we study the life of the king called "a man after God's own heart." Yet that phrase speaks of David's humility and dependence upon the Lord. Before moving forward in battle, he prayed and waited for God's response. What a great example David is for us. Before facing the spiritual battles in front of us, we first must pray. And then wait for God's direction. So simple, yet so easy to forget.

The Joyful Sound

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

         Lovingkindness and truth go before You. 

    How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

         O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance. 

    In Your name they rejoice all the day,"

Psalm 89:14-16

Christians should be the happiest people on earth. Christ's sacrifice on the cross has atoned for our sins and God's righteousness and justice have been satisfied. We live in a constant position of grace, enjoying God's lovingkindness. His truth is something we can trust in, and in which we can take great pleasure. The Lord looks upon us with favor. Knowing this, we can rejoice always, even in the midst of great trial. We are blessed, because we know the joyful sound of His love.

Beauty Out of the Ashes

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

What a precious promise God gives us in this verse. Even though sorrow comes into our lives, we have the assurance that our Father loves us and will bring good out of the bad. God always has a master plan. Not a back-up plan, not Plan B. No. God knows what's coming before it ever takes place and He intends to bring beauty out of the ashes. It takes so much trust in the Lord to accept this truth. Satan will try to persuade us that God doesn't love us, that God is not good. But that is a lie and we must recognize it as such and cling to scriptures such as this one. Say to the Lord, "You are my God and I trust you. Just as Job said, 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.'" 

First Things First

But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:40-42

I have often heard these verses used to teach that we must choose between being a Mary who sits at the feet of Jesus, and Martha who busies herself with preparing dinner for Him. Dare I say that we can be both Mary and Martha; that we can both worship Jesus and serve Him? Mary chose "the good part", to put worship of Christ first. I submit that Martha had her priorities messed up. She should have put the meal on the table after spending time with the Savior. The Lord pointed out to Martha that she was "worried and bothered about so many things." This tells me that Martha was stressed out over her service to the Lord -- maybe even doing too much -- and He didn't want that. He said "only one thing is necessary", and that one thing was spending time with Him. My guess is Martha would have found her service less stressful, if she had first spent time with the Lord. 

Struck by the Glory of God

"Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." 

Psalm 95:6

God has created us with eyes to behold the majestic beauty of His creation; ears to hear the peaceful sound of a rippling stream or early morning birdsong; a nose to sniff the scent of pine or fragrance of a blooming rose; hands to touch smooth stones or make a snowball; and feet to walk through fertile pastures or lovely parks. All this we may take for granted, until suddenly we're struck by the glory of God. In an attitude of humility before our awesome God, we worship Him. Hallelujah to the LORD our Maker!