February 10, 2023 Devotional

Isaiah 6:8

 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

This enthusiastic plea from Isaiah to be the one the Lord sends is absolutely remarkable! However, upon consideration, we will see that Isaiah was responding the only way he could. You see, this plea from Isaiah happens during an event that would forever change Isaiah’s life. Isaiah has just encountered the living God! High and lifted up in His throne, with Seraphim ceaselessly worshipping before Him. The change that is to occur here is seen in an instant. The very moment Isaiah laid his eyes upon the glory of the Lord, Isaiah’s utter sinfulness and shame became overwhelmingly apparent. He cries out, “Woe is me! For I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” In the very moment that Isaiah sees God as He really is, he also sees himself as he really is. Lost and wretched. But what happens next is what makes all the difference. One of the Seraphim flew over with a lump of burning coal and touched Isaiah’s sin-polluted lips stating that guilt was now removed and sin atoned for.

John, in his gospel, talks about Isaiah’s vision. John informs us in John 12:41 that “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him”. Isaiah, seeing the glory of Christ and experiencing the redemption only afforded through Christ, wholeheartedly and with every bit of his will, said Here I am. Send me!

This should be the reality of everyone who bears the name Christian. For if we, too, have a correct view of who God is, of who we are without him, then the only option upon receiving the undeserved grace that flows so freely from the wounds of our savior is to want to please Him. Are we freely giving of ourselves this very day? Are we constantly looking to the scriptures, not just for guidance on how to live our lives, but simply to know more of Him? Knowing Him through time spent on our knees and in the scriptures will guide our hearts and minds to the place where we, too, might say Here I am, Lord. Send me!