Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.
Read
Isaiah 6:1-5 (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!”
Reflect
What do you think is behind school children deriding someone by calling him or her a “goody-goody,” or making fun of someone for earning good grades? Perhaps it’s a feeling of inadequacy. If these children had the capacity to capture honestly their feelings with words, they might say, “I know I’m not as well-behaved as you, so I’m going to try to convince myself that being well-behaved is pointless,” or, “I know I’m not as smart as you, so I’m going to try to convince myself that good grades are for losers.” Such feelings can also manifest with an inward critique, as when an average worker feels like a slacker when he or she is around an exceptionally hard worker, or when an adequate athlete feels completely inadequate when around a superstar player.
When Isaiah was in the presence of God, he felt dirty and unclean. Who wouldn’t? No one or nothing other than God is worthy of the kind of adoration Isaiah witnessed. When in God’s presence, we should feel unclean. It’s God’s hope that such feelings will lead us not to despair, but to repentance and betterment of ourselves.
Pray
You are so good, God, and I know I’m not. Thank you for calling me to be honest with myself and with you. Forgive my sins through Christ Jesus, and guide my life by the Holy Spirit so that I may do more to please and serve you. Amen.
Go with God.
