Isaiah 6: 5--9a
Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. And he touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven." 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!" And He said, "Go, and tell this people..." --NASB
In the name of the Lofty and Exalted One Who is seated among the seraphim, amen.
Isaiah the mighty seer of old stood before the Holy God and trembled in fear for his life. He was a sinner. He was from a sinful nation. He was standing in the presence of the Holy One. Which of us is any different? Which of us is able to stand before the Holy God--the One Who sees everything? It is amazing that we dare even approach His Holy Word. At least in His Word God is hidden behind the curtain of written words. But to stand in His presence and hear His praises sung by the mighty angels, we are moved to ask, "Oh Lord who can stand?"
But there is forgiveness for us just as there was forgiveness for Isaiah. That forgiveness is found at the altar of God. At the altar of God the true Passover Lamb was sacrificed so that we are able to stand in the presence of God and hear the question, "Who will go?" It is interesting that Isaiah's sins are forgiven before there is the remotest consideration of a call to preach. There is no indication of a special character given to him. Rather he receives the same forgiveness of sins that makes all of us worthy to serve God in whatever place and circumstance we find ourselves.
We can serve God whether we are a janitor, a parent, the president of a nation, or a pastor. We serve God in the position we are in. All honorable work is pleasing to God. As we raise our children, we serve and worship God by raising our children in the true faith. As we work at our job, we serve and worship God by doing our job honestly and eagerly. Such things bring stability in the world. Such things honor the name of the Lord.
Yet, there remains a special job. It is a job that is entered when a Christian hears the voice of God in His Holy Word ask, "Who will go?" The forgiven Christian hears that question and eagerly replies, "Here am I, send me!"
All Christians find themselves at times hearing the voice of God asking the question, "Who will go?" It happens when we speak with a friend who is an unbeliever. It happens with the person on the airplane or at work. We answer, "Here am I," and speak God's life-giving Word to such people.
Beyond this, there is the congregational worship life of the Church in which God again asks, "Who will go?" Christian men are led by the Holy Spirit to answer that question, "Here am I, send me!" They are then called by God through the congregation to speak to the people. We should remember such men in our prayers so that they remain in the faith. We should ask God to fill them with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding so that they may teach us the pure Word of God and guide us in our faith. Finally, we should speak well of them and encourage them so that their job is a joy. And their job truly is a joy because as they speak the holy Word of God to us, they themselves are built up in the true faith.
Yes they are sinful human beings, but they have been forgiven. They have also been called by God through the Church to speak the word of God. May we be blessed by the Word of God which is spoken through His called servants. Amen.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for leading men to respond to the call to preach your Word. Encourage them and fill them with your Holy Spirit so that they may be a blessing to your Holy People. Help us to speak well of them and encourage them so that their job may be a joy, amen.