Isaiah 6-10

In today's reading, Isaiah 6-10, we get to visualize how God comes to Isaiah, and calls him to something "more" than what he has been doing up to that point in his life.

Isaiah's encounter with God immediately stirs something deep inside him, and I love his very personal realization of God's majesty...

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

  the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3

God's voice calls Isaiah to be a prophet and share His holy Word with His people in Judah and Israel (and with us today), and Isaiah faithfully and joyfully responds,

Here am I.  Send me!

Isaiah 6:8

There's so much more to the details of this story, but God's power and presence in Isaiah's life, His very personal way of calling Isaiah to do something very specific for Him, and Isaiah's certain willingness to say "yes" to God offers all of us so much hope and inspiration for our own lives. 

And as we continue reading, we realize that Isaiah has absolutely no idea what lies ahead, what he is getting himself into by following God's will for his life.  Yet, God knows every detail of what He is doing.  God has this amazingly big plan and Isaiah is in the middle of it, relying and trusting God each step of the way.  

Although following God means Isaiah's life on Earth is not easy at times, we are reminded that it's truly full of God's awesome promises and everlasting purpose.  God takes care of His people.

Talk about a meaningful life!  

Isaiah turns out to be one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.  God shares His future very complicated plans for us with Isaiah (so many, many centuries ago).  The most amazing of which is the promise that though we fall short in our sinful ways, by His love, God has given us a Savior for all time.

For to us a child is born,

  to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6

Although we may not be called to be a prophet, God calls us to very specific, hope-filled purposes for Him too.  And when we say, "Send me!," we are able to get a glimpse of God's power and presence in our lives, right now, just like Isaiah, as well as glimpses of our future hope.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

I thank You for giving me and all of Your believers Jesus to be our Savior, our wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace.

By your love and grace, I am saved and free from sin, full of Your hope and Your awesome promises.

I pray you will help me to keep standing and growing in my faith.  And as I learn to rely and trust You more and more, empower me to hear Your voice and serve You in all that I do.  

I also pray for _______________ who need(s) to know and experience the reality of You and Your love in this life.

Lord, here I am.  Make me new in Christ and send me.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Grace and peace of Christ,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.