Sometimes there are certain sermons that I preach that continue to “haunt” me. I am still reveling in the implications of last week’s sermon of the only logical response to our glorious God of grace is, “Here am I. Send me.”

“Here I am. Send me.”

Isaiah (Isaiah 6) had been so impacted by God’s holiness, the depth of his own sinfulness, and the grace of God that he was ready and willing to obey God no matter what. He didn’t put conditions upon his obedience, but he simply said that he would do what God would ask even though God hadn’t yet told him what that would be. Even when he found out that it would be a difficult calling, he didn’t back down. When we see God as Isaiah saw God, it is hard not to make ourselves available and it is hard to be dissuaded from our calling, no matter how difficult it might be. A right view of God, of ourselves, of our sin, and of grace is essential for faithfulness to what God has called us to do.

The Everydayness of Gospel Opportunities

It has struck me that all too often I find myself (and honestly our church) wanting to play it safe. We have a heart for the lost, but we never go to the lost. We want to see people come to be saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, right? There are numerous opportunities for you and for me to share the gospel for each and every day!

Yet, too often, we wait for someone else to share the gospel with a loved one because we don’t want to stir the waters. Sometimes we might expect your pastor to do all of the ministry things while you just show up and support him. This is not God’s way. He wants us to say with Isaiah that we are available and willing to go and do whatever we are asked. He wants us to have willing hearts and not pass off our responsibilities to someone else. God has created good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), and it is our responsibility to do them. You will not be judged one day by what your pastor has done or by what other people do but by what you do. You will give an account for yourself.

So, admittedly I tire quickly of hearing, “There is no place place for me serve because I am _ or because you believe __.” I am particularly thankful for The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood’s reminder in Affirmation #9 of the Danvers Statement:

“With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).”

Isaiah, an ordinary man, was willing to obey God and step out in faith to let God do extraordinary things through him. I pray that we would come to see and value God as Isaiah did such that we will say with Isaiah, “Here I am. Send me.”