Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

Read

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NRSV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 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!”

Reflect

One of the many things I have learned in my Christian life is that God deals with each of his children differently. Isaiah’s call to ministry was very dramatic, filled with action. The Lord dealt with me in a different way.

I was reared in a Christian home, accepted the Lord and was baptized when I was in the 6th grade. I was content with that until I lived at West Point and heard some very dramatic conversion stories from former drug addicts who were undergoing rehabilitation at the Walter Hoving home for girls. Having never experienced such a dramatic conversion, I began to doubt my salvation.

One night while watching TV, Ruth Graham was recounting her conversion. She grew up in China with her missionary parents, living for Christ all her life—no dramatic conversion experience. I related to her story and found peace and encouragement in it. God uses people to speak to us in different ways that call us to the Lord! Hallelujah!

Pray

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you communicate with us, helping us to do your work and your will in our world today. Amen.

Go with God.