I Saw the Lord

Daily Reading: Isaiah 6

Scripture Focus: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple...  One of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar... Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6.1, 6, 8)

Devotional Thought: A beloved pastor of fourteen years had retired.  A new pastor had not yet been identified.  I found myself serving as the interim pastor for four months, as the church navigated the uncertainty.  We were not content to just pass the time.  We believed that God would speak during the transition.

“In the year that King Uzziah died…”  These were uncertain days in Jerusalem.  It is always that way when there is a change of leadership.  And, it wasn't just for the people.  The leader experienced some discomfort as well.  Isaiah needed a renewed vision of God to clarify his ministry, and to provide him with a relevant and fresh message. 

Have you ever felt that way?  That you need a fresh vision from God?  A fresh vision of God?  For Isaiah, it came at a steep price, the death of a respected leader and the entering into a period of uncertainty.  It also meant coming face to face with his own sinfulness!  Are we ready for that?

Don’t be dismayed. These events brought about something wonderful - fire from heaven!  In this vision, God touched Isaiah’s lips, the “instruments” of work and ministry, with a coal from heaven’s altar, and cleansed his sinful condition.  Now, Isaiah was ready to be God’s instrument!  Recognizing that, his response went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am! Send me!”

Oh, that God would give us a fresh vision of his will and purpose for our own lives, and for our families and churches!  And, oh that we would experience the cleansing sanctifying work of the Spirit’s fire, so that we would be ready to say, “Here I am!  Send me.”

Prayer: Lord, you are the Changeless One.  In times of transition and uncertainty, I rest upon your unchanging grace.  Touch me with the fire of heaven, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, that I might say, "Here I am.  Send me."  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 41.1-9

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

2 the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

3 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

4 As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"

5 My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die, and his name perish?"

6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

8 They say, "A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies."

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.