Send me!!

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) — 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

I have often contemplated what Isaiah must have experienced and felt as he had this supernatural experience with God.  The holiness of God had to have been palatable as he stood in His presence, because Isaiah recognized that his unworthiness was a glaring blemish in his ability to stand before Him.

Throughout my life, I have had experiences with God which greatly impacted the direction of my life.  It was in those moments that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was doing a special work in my life and that I needed to make every effort to pay attention to His leading and follow His will for my life.

Isaiah was quick to volunteer for service when God asked in a general sense, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” It was in that moment that Isaiah realized that he had an opportunity to serve God in a way that would take the supernatural experience he was having and put it to use in practical service to the people.  He knew God was placing the commission on his life to be a spokesperson to the nation.

I love his willingness to serve.  He humbly knew that his life was not his own and in light of the mercy of God, he had an opportunity to serve God with his soul, body, mind, and will.  His response evidenced a humble readiness and a complete trust in God’s plans for his life. In spite of his shortcomings, he made himself available to God for His use.

Each one of us have experienced and received the mercies of God which have been abundant in our lives.  Salvation is the chief of those mercies in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  When we asked God for forgiveness of our sins and committed our lives to His Lordship, we were offering everything that we are and will ever be, to His service and His leadership in our lives.

Isaiah becomes for us the example of who we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto God.  His desire to be used by God brought no questions as to the impact it would have to his schedule, relationships, and life plan. He readily volunteer without reservation, without setting terms, and without a deeper discussion to the expectations.

May we follow Paul’s command to us:  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)