by Luke Kincaid
Everybody loves good service. The other night while I was waiting to collect some food a customer walked up to the counter and placed his order requesting that one of his meals come without chips because his daughter didn’t like the spice on them. The lady who was serving him replied that they could make the chips plain and the man commented that he didn’t know that was a possibility. The ladies answer really stood out to me. She said, “We can do whatever you like!” Now that’s some good quality service!
While thinking about how accommodating this restaurant was I was challenged if I in anyway approach service to God like this. I wondered if I could be characterized as a child of God who boldly proclaims to my Father that I would do anything that He asked of me. And while thinking about these questions I came across the story of Isaiah when he is called to be one of God’s prophets in Isaiah 6. Upon seeing the glory of God we can read Isaiah’s response:
5 Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies. 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. (Isaiah 6:5-8)
“Here I am, send me”. This scripture is challenging for me because I don’t think that I am always this willing to serve God in the ways in which He has commissioned me to. While doing some reading on this Scripture I found the following commentary on Got Questions which really made this scripture come alive to me:
“After Isaiah acknowledges his sin, a seraph takes a burning piece of coal from the altar, touches Isaiah’s lips with it, and says, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (Isaiah 6:7). Some details are important here: Isaiah could not remove his own guilt, the atonement is made possible by the altar—the place of sacrifice—and the purification is specifically applied to the point of Isaiah’s sin—his lips—making Isaiah acceptable as a minister of God’s words. It is only after Isaiah is cleansed of his sin that he says, “Here am I; send me.” Prior to that point, he saw himself as an unworthy messenger; once he was forgiven, he immediately desired to serve the Lord in whatever way possible. The Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”—He wants willing volunteers in His service—and a grateful and enthusiastic Isaiah doesn’t hesitate in taking the opportunity: “Here am I; send me.” And for the rest of his life, Isaiah serves the God who had forgiven and saved him.”
Every genuine disciple of Jesus has had the guilt and penalty of their sin removed thanks to what only Jesus could accomplish on our behalf. When we truly repent and believe in Jesus we are cleansed and made worthy to proclaim the gospel in whichever way God commands us to – but this will only happen if we are willing to be sent out, if we are willing to serve God. God has a plan to further His kingdom through every single one of His disciples. So know today that you have been empowered to accomplish this incredible mission in a unique way and you have the incredible opportunity to serve your Father as you allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.
Much love,
Luke
